RV David Thompson is a Parks Canada mid-shore scientific research and survey vessel, that entered service in 2016.

RV David Thompson has been used to carry out underwater archaeology work with Parks Canada during the survey of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, the two Franklin Expedition ships lost in Northern Canadian waters.

[1][2] The ship is powered by one Caterpillar 3512 geared diesel engine rated at 954 kilowatts (1,279 hp) driving a single controllable pitch propeller and a bow thruster.

[3] The ship was based in Prince Rupert in British Columbia and registered in Ottawa, Ontario.

[7] In June 2017, the ship was used for a marine archeology expedition at the underwater wreck site of HMS Terror in the Arctic.