The Marine Division of the British Columbia Provincial Police had humble beginnings.

The earliest mention of a police boat on the coast is the sloop Maybelle, skippered by Constable A.D. Drummond. In his sailboat, Drummond made his patrols of the islands and inlets of the Gulf of Georgia. However, because the boat was powered by sail, it would sometimes take days to answer all the calls.

The year 1923 marks a major reorganization of the Provincial Police Force. From that reorganization evolved several new divisions, one of which was the Marine Division. Shortly thereafter the Marine Division began to expand. Soon there were patrol boats stationed all along the coast of British Columbia. These boats were easily recognized with their pearl-grey paintwork, Blue Ensign, Police Pennant and the letters "P.M.L." (Police Motor Launch) followed by a number on the bow. Each patrol boat varied in size and construction depending upon the needs of the area to be served. Similarly, crew size depended upon the patrol being made and the work to be carried out.

Latterly, each vessel carried ship-to-shores radio equipment to keep in touch with their detachment and Headquarters in Victoria. Similarly on each patrol boat the skipper was the senior officer in charge of the vessel, assisted by an engineer, and if big enough, there was a radio operator, a cook and other constables to do the deckhand chores.

However P.M.L. # 15 has a different background. She was not constructed specifically for the Force but rather was acquired from another British Columbia Government Department.

The 15 was originally built for the British Columbia Government Department of Public Works by Armstrong Brothers shipyard on Kingston Street in Victoria. She was launched on July 27, 1939 and christened the "Milwin" by Mrs. Frank M. MacPherson, the wife of the British Columbia Minister of Public Works of the day. P.M.L. # 15 is sixty feet long with a beam of fifteen foot six inches and draws six feet of water. Her gross tonnage is forty.

Originally she was powered by a Vivian Diesel giving her a speed of some nine and one half knots. Over the ensuing years she has been re-engined and now is powered by a G. M. Diesel. With accomodation for ten persons, including crew she has a cruising radius of twelve hundred nautical miles. All the fittings on board are of top quality brass and the wood used for her construction was yellow cedar, red cedar, teak and fir. After extensive sea trials the vessel was turned over to the Provincial Department of Public Works.

Milwin was used as a service boat by the Public Works engineers working and repairing installations along the West Coast of Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands. These tasks only lasted a short while because after the declaration of the Second World War her use changed dramatically and on December 7, 1940 Milwin was taken over by the B.C. Police Force and re-christened the P.M.L. # 15. No doubt in the interim any alterations to her interior layout were carried out by Armstrong Brothers shipyard of Victoria. Once with the Police, her role changed but her patrol area remained relatively the same, the West coast of the Island and as far north as the Charlottes. No doubt she covered many points on the inside of the Island as well. She remained with the Force until the Royal Canadian Mounted Police took over the B.C. Police on August 15, 1950.

For several yars after the takeover the R.C.M.P. continued to use this vessel, now re-named the M.P. # 15. However, gradually they replaced the ex-B.C. Police boats with boats of their own design. This resulted in the M.P. # 15 being consigned to the Federal Government Crown Assets disposal programme for sale to the highest bidder. After retiring from government service this vessel was re-christened the Blue Fjord and to this day carries that name.

From 1959 to the present day, Blue Fjord has passed through a number of different owners all of whom have used her for marine related activities. Early in her civilian life Blue Fjord was the Santa Claus Ship for the Victoria Junior Chamber of Commerce's annual Santa Cruise through the American and Canadian Gulf Islands. This event brings Christmas cheer and goodwill to many communities around the Gulf. The boats cargo consisted of masses of clothing, candy and toys of all shapes and sizes. For the ships crew this could be a cold but rewarding experience!

Since 1987 Blue Fjord has been owned by a wonderful couple who make Ladysmith their homeport. Over the years they have used her for environmental studies with the David Suzuki Foundation, Whale Watching tours on Johnstone Strait, and Charter Cruises up the Inside Passage as far as Glacier Bay in Alaska. More recently, my wife and I were privileged to be included in a Mothers Day cruise around the environs of Ladysmith harbour. This was a perfect way to see Blue Fjord and all that the boat has to offer her clientele. Long may the Blue Fjord continue to bring pleasure to all those who travel on this venerable vessel!!