MV Christmas Seal
Encyclopedia
The MV Christmas Seal was a former naval patrol vessel and later a medical ship and oceanographic research platform.
Originally built for the United States Navy
as torpedo boat
PT 107, she operated as the aircraft crash rescue boat at Naval Air Station Argentia
for several years during World War II
.
She was purchased in 1944 by the Newfoundland Tuberculosis Association and converted into a floating TB
medical clinic for coastal communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
. The vessel was outfitted with an X-Ray
unit to test residents of outports
for the disease. The vessel's purchase and conversion was funded through the sale of Christmas Seals and through other forms of public donations, thus she was renamed the MV Christmas Seal. During her medical service career visiting Newfoundland outports she was captained by Peter Troake
. She also carried the Cross of Lorraine
at the mast head.
The vessel was sold in 1971 and was chartered by the federal government for oceanographic research through the Bedford Institute of Oceanography
in 1976. It was during this charter on May 13 that she struck a reef off Nova Scotia
's Eastern Shore
and sunk with no loss of life. Wood salvaged from the MV Christmas Seal has been used to build a Canadian guitar to denote a patchwork of Canadian history.
Originally built for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
PT 107, she operated as the aircraft crash rescue boat at Naval Air Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941-1994. It was established in the community of Argentia in what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland, which later became the tenth Canadian province .-Construction:Established under the British-U.S...
for several years during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
She was purchased in 1944 by the Newfoundland Tuberculosis Association and converted into a floating TB
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
medical clinic for coastal communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. The vessel was outfitted with an X-Ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
unit to test residents of outports
Outport
Outport is the name given in the United Kingdom for a subsidiary port built in deeper water than the original port. The Port of Tilbury from the Port of London is a good example. Avonmouth and Bristol and, on a smaller and now historical scale, Fordwich and Canterbury are others....
for the disease. The vessel's purchase and conversion was funded through the sale of Christmas Seals and through other forms of public donations, thus she was renamed the MV Christmas Seal. During her medical service career visiting Newfoundland outports she was captained by Peter Troake
Peter Troake
Peter Troake, CM was a mariner, born in Durrell, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada. Captain of the MV Christmas Seal and recipient of the Order of Canada for his work in the improvement of welfare in Newfoundland through his service to the province of Newfoundland.Troake served with the...
. She also carried the Cross of Lorraine
Cross of Lorraine
The Cross of Lorraine is originally a heraldic cross. The two-barred cross consists of a vertical line crossed by two smaller horizontal bars. In the ancient version, both bars were of the same length. In 20th century use it is "graded" with the upper bar being the shortest...
at the mast head.
The vessel was sold in 1971 and was chartered by the federal government for oceanographic research through the Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
The Bedford Institute of Oceanography is a major Canadian government ocean research facility located in Dartmouth in the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia. The Bedford Institute of Oceanography is the largest ocean research station in Canada...
in 1976. It was during this charter on May 13 that she struck a reef off Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
's Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore (Nova Scotia)
The Eastern Shore is a region of Nova Scotia Canada. It is the Atlantic coast running northeast from Halifax Harbour to the eastern end of the peninsula at the Strait of Canso....
and sunk with no loss of life. Wood salvaged from the MV Christmas Seal has been used to build a Canadian guitar to denote a patchwork of Canadian history.