The vessel's hull form differs from her classmates, with a differently-shaped bow with a raised forecastle and underwater "ice knife".

Furthermore, the ship has a Wärtsilä air-bubbling system installed to allow the vessel to reduce hull friction and more easily break ice.

[3] On the ship's maiden voyage from Victoria, British Columbia to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the vessel transited the Northwest Passage, performing sea trials on the trip.

[2] In 2002, the icebreaker carried Governor General Adrienne Clarkson on ceremonial duties visiting several towns in Newfoundland.

[11] In August 2014, Henry Larsen took part in Operation Nanook, a joint military exercise that took place in the Davis Strait.

[12] On 7 July 2015, it was announced that Henry Larsen would undergo a $16 million refit at Davie Yards Incorporated in Lauzon, Quebec.

[13] In April 2017, Henry Larsen was dispatched to aid the ferry MV Apollo which had become stuck in ice in the Strait of Belle Isle near Blanc-Sablon, Quebec for over 24 hours.