The Bay class were designed and ordered as replacements for the Second World War-era minesweepers that the Royal Canadian Navy operated at the time.

[3][note 2] The Bay-class minesweepers were powered by two GM 12-cylinder diesel engines driving two shafts creating 2,400 brake horsepower (1,800 kW).

The vessel was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 30 July 1954 at Saint John.

[8] The vessel was eventually replaced in the Royal Canadian Navy by Miramichi (MCB 163) of the same class.

[6] Renamed La Lorientaise the ship served as a minesweeper until 1973 when she had air conditioning installed for use as an overseas territories patrol vessel in the Pacific.