This merchant ship, seen in Halifax harbour, Canada's busiest and most important port, wears dazzle paint, a type of camouflage invented during the First World War.

The multi-coloured dazzle camouflage was applied to merchant ships and warships alike. Its striking colours and disruptive lines were intended to make the ships harder to target by deceiving German submariners about their type, size and direction of travel.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20080060-001_27c