The flagship of the Canadian Coast Guard was preparing to leave St. John's Monday for a scientific mission connected to the country's Arctic sovereignty.

The icebreaker Louis St. Laurent will be undertaking a mission over the next four months that will include a team of scientists, including biologists, oceanographers and hydrographers.

Capt. Marc Rothwell said the team working aboard the Louis St. Laurent will collect important data related to the Arctic sovereignty issue. (CBC)

Apart from projects that include ice, water and plankton testing, the mission is also connected to ensuring that the Arctic will be part of Canada in years to come.

"We're basically surveying the ocean bottom, and Canada will be submitting its data to the World Court to decide areas that we'll have jurisdiction to down the road," said Capt. Marc Rothwell, who first sailed to the Arctic 18 years ago

Canada is competing with other countries for jurisdiction of the Arctic, including its potentially lucrative natural resources.

Rothwell said this battle will be fought with evidence.

"It's all based, basically, on scientific data. There's a formula and a vehicle to deal with this. It's going to be not an easy but a peaceful process that's done with science," Rothwell said.

"Science is going to be the key to all this."