Figure IV-2 — Northwest Passage Track of SS ''Manhattan'' 



GREENLAND 



PHILADELPHIA •<. 



The first severe test came as the Manhattan probed the heavy ice in 

 McClure Strait, north of Banks Island. Winds sweeping across the open 

 Arctic Ocean often jam the dense polar pack into the mouth of the strait, 

 with heavy pressure and ridging, making it potentially the most difficult part 

 of a transit. Faced with just this situation, the tanker was stuck in ice three 

 times, and the decision taken to proceed via the more ice-free Prince of Wales 

 Strait between Banks and Victoria Islands. 



Proceeding via this alternate route she soon passed the Mackenzie delta 

 and steamed up the Alaskan coast, arriving in sight of the drilling rigs at 

 Prudhoe Bay on September 19. After onloading a symbolic barrel of 

 Alaskan crude oil, she sailed on to Point Barrow, her successful westward 

 transit completed. 



On her return voyage the Manhattan spent almost a month in Melville 

 Sound, deliberately seeking out different ice conditions. Maneuvering tests 

 were run to see how large ships would perform under difficult circumstances 

 comparable to those which would be encountered during much of the year. 

 These tests concluded, she continued her eastward transit and arrived at 

 New York City on November 12, having covered over 11,000 miles on the 

 round trip. 



During the entire voyage, the Manhattan's extensive instrumentation 

 continuously recorded data on the air, water and ice, and the ship's reac- 

 tion to environmental conditions. In addition to the automatic equipment 

 there was a wealth of visual observations and hand-recorded information, 



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