Designed by E.Y.E. and built at Georgetown Shipyard in Prince Edward Island, the "FCG Smith" is a catamaran sounding vessel whose primary function is to map the ocean floor for preparation of marine charts. The "Smith" was built for the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and was originally stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The "FCG Smith" is 34.8m in length, has twin screw diesel propulsion and is designed to meet Canadian Coast Guard single compartment flooding stability requirements. She can sound a 42m wide path at a speed of 5 knots.

After a number of years of successful operation out of Halifax, she was transferred to Sorel, Quebec, where she continues her work under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Coast Guard.