The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker ‘Sir Wilfred Laurier’, a 3,812 ton vessel built in 1986, was undergoing routine maintenance when its exterior lights were found to be irreparably corroded and in a need of replacement. Extreme weather conditions and the hull vibration contributed to the rapid deterioration of the old fixtures. Faced with the urgent need to replace them, the Coast Guard sought assistance from Bell Lighting who provided new highly efficient metal halide lighting fixtures together with custom made mounting brackets.

The fixtures are finished with a proprietary powder coated surface, which can withstand large temperature variations. They are expected to operate for many years in the harsh environment found along the Canada’s coastline. Mr. Dale Bellavance, President of Bell Lighting Technologies remarked, "I am delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate that the Coastguard's confidence in Bell Lighting fixtures has been well-placed. The strength, performance and reliability of our metal halide fixtures are now being showcased in one of the world's most severe marine environments and this installation represents an ideal opportunity to prove that our fixtures are amongst the toughest in the world."
Mr. Doug Rowe, Manager of Operations at Bell Lighting, added, "Bell's mandate was to deliver a product tough enough to withstand the high level of vibration normally occurring on a working icebreaker. Fortunately the company's standard practice is to use double welded marine standard aluminum for all our luminaries."