In 1983, "Des Groseilliers" made her first voyage to the Arctic. In April 1984, after the opening of the navigation season on the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, the area froze up, driving six cargo ships ashore and a further eighteen became stuck in the ice. Five icebreakers were assigned to aid the merchant vessels, however, they proved unable to meet the task. "Des Groseilliers" and were sent to their aid, with "Des Groseilliers" arriving on 11 April and worked to free the stuck vessels and provide safe passage until 29 April. The following year, the icebreaker escorted the icebreaking cargo ship to Cameron Island in the Arctic to load 100,000 barrels of oil.