Peters challenge - Canada, Scotland, Norway and sea captain

I am lost and don't know where to look now. Any advice would be very grateful received.

My great grandfather George Alfred Peters was born on a sailing ship off Canada in 1884. They landed in St John and he was given Canadian citizenship - or so the story goes. I believe George's father, John Alfred Peters, was a sea captain - this information is from George's marriage registration. The family story is that John Alfred Peters was born in Scotland (Lerwick, Shetland Islands) and went to Norway (supposedly Oslo) where he married (wife is unknown (possible Nina?)) and was given a sailing vessel (merchant) to sail between Canada, Europe and China by her father. George was one of 4 sons. The four children attended a private school in Norway. I had hoped to find the family in the census but have not been able to. John Alfred Peters died at sea returning to Norway from Canada - George was devastated and left his boarding school and hopped on a ship leaving home for good. I have not yet been able to find any trace of either John or George other than George's marriage registration.

The only date I have is for George Alfred Peters who was born approx 1884 which is calculated from his death registration. After the death of his father George left private school and jumped a sailing ship as a cabin boy. He sailed for many years and ended up on a patrol boat on the Shanghai River in China when World War 1 broke out. He went to Canada and signed up for overseas duty.

Many thanks
Colleen