The Navy: A Century in Art
The Navy at Sea

The Canadian navy is a creature of the sea. Its ships, equipment, tactics, and experiences have been conditioned by the major environments in which it serves. Historically, the most important of these have been Canada's long and ragged coasts and the storm-tossed northern waters connecting Canada to the world.

Examination Officer Boarding Merchant Ship
Painted by Donald C. Mackay in 1943

Traffic control and ship inspection were critical functions at busy wartime ports.

In this painting, an officer of the navy's examination service (right, climbing ladder) boards an inbound merchant ship to verify its registry and inspect its cargo. After the devastating Halifax Explosion of December 1917, involving the collision of a heavily-loaded munitions ship with another vessel, examination officers paid particular attention to explosives.

Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-4218