As part of the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean experiment in 1997, and "Des Groseilliers" sailed through the Northwest Passage to meet in Alaskan waters. "Sir Wilfrid Laurier" then escorted "Des Groseilliers" to a point where "Des Groseilliers"s engines were shut off on 2 October and the ship was left with a minimum crew and a group of international scientists. The vessel was then left to drift in the pack ice for a year and dubbed Ice Station SHEBA. Landing strips were constructed on the ice and throughout the winter the vessel was visited by Twin Otter aircraft bringing equipment and replacement personnel and scientists. In Spring 1998, the ice that enclosed the ship began to crack and the landing strips could no longer be used. The icebreaker had been expected to drift in circles, however, the vessel drifted towards Russian waters. During the summer, the vessel was supported by helicopters from the United States Coast Guard vessels and . "Louis S. St-Laurent" returned on 9 October 1998 with additional crew and the two vessels sailed south, with "Des Groseilliers" returning to Quebec City on 4 November.