It was a Type 200 AP1-88 air-cushioned vehicle (ACV) and sister ship to CCGS Sipu Muin.

[3] The vessel was commissioned into the CCG on 15 July 1987 as Waban-Aki, a First Nations term meaning "people of the dawn".

[2] The hovercraft underwent sea trials before arriving in Montreal, Quebec in August 1987 and began operations in October.

[1] Due to the high volume of shipping in the Canadian Saint Lawrence and the requirement to keep the shipping lanes open year round, CCG hovercraft in Eastern Canada are primarily tasked with icebreaking, with secondary tasks such as performing search and rescue missions and navigation aid maintenance.

[4] Waban-Aki performed these duties for 22 years before being taken out of service and being replaced by CCGS Mamilossa in 2009.