The ship is powered by a diesel engine driving one controllable pitch propeller creating 1,970 brake horsepower (1,470 kW).

[3][4][b] The vessel was named for Wilfred Templeman, a marine biologist from Newfoundland and Labrador who was director of the Fisheries Research Board' biological station at St.

[5] In 1995, in an effort to combine tasks, administration and making savings in both ships and funds, the Fisheries and Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard fleets were merged under the command of the Canadian Coast Guard.

[7] In September 2009 the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced invitations for contracts to replace several of the Coast Guard research vessels, including Wilfred Templeman.

[8] In July 2011, Wilfred Templeman was advertised for sale, and was eventually sold for $371,956.55 to McKeil Work Boats of Hamilton, Ontario.