Originally built for the Canadian Coast Guard as CCGS Norman McLeod Rogers, named for former Canadian Member of Parliament and cabinet minister Norman McLeod Rogers (1894–1940), the vessel was acquired by Chile in 1994 and renamed after Counter Admiral Óscar Viel y Toro (1837–1892), the commander of the Chilean naval forces from 1881 to 1883 and 1891.

[4][5] As built, the vessel was equipped with a CODAG system composed of four diesel engines and two gas turbines powering two electric motors driving two shafts.

[5] Norman McLeod Rogers entered into service with the Canadian Coast Guard in October 1969 for use mainly as an icebreaker but to also tend to the large buoys that were replacing lightships.

[8] In 1975, while on a scientific mission in Ungava Bay, the icebreaker went to the aid of Aigle d'Ocean, a small cargo ship that overturned in a storm.

Contact with the helicopter was soon lost, but the icebreaker arrived at the scene of the sinking merchant vessel in time to rescue five people.