[1] Entering service in 1894, Aberdeen was initially deployed as a lighthouse supply and buoy vessel along the Atlantic coast of Canada.

At about 13:00 Aberdeen was approaching the Black Ledge, about 2.01 km (1.25 miles) from Seal Island, when she struck the wreck of the trawler Snipe, which had sunk the previous June.

Aberdeen sent a mayday signal by radio, and her sister ship Laurentian sailed from Saint John immediately, along with Acadia from Halifax, Nova Scotia and Arleux from Briar Island.

[5] The ship had about 500 bags of cement destined for the Cape Sable Light aboard, and also drums of calcium carbide, that caused much concern (as it reacts with water to form the flammable gas acetylene).

About 25 of the crew were sent to the Seal Island Light Station in the ship's boats, while the remainder stayed aboard to assist in salvaging as much of the wreck as they could.