The H. M. Wilson is a tugboat especially designed for service in Churchill, Manitoba, the only Arctic Ocean port connected to the North America railroad grid.
The vessel was designed by the well-known naval architectural firm, Robert Allan Ltd.
She was designed to be broken down into several loads that could each be shipped on a railroad flatcar, to be reassembled in Churchill.
She was designed with a relatively flat bottom, due to the lack of any nearby ports with maintenance facilities. When her hull needs to be serviced or inspected, she beaches herself.
She is equipped with a water cannon, for fighting fires.
She was built to operate in icy waters.