Summary of Operations 



The 1998 ice year (1 October 1997 

 to 30 September 1998) marked the 84 th 

 anniversary of the International Ice Patrol, 

 which was established 7 February 1914. 

 MP's operating area is enclosed by lines 

 along 40°N, 52°N, 39°W and 57°W (See 

 Figure 1). 



MP's first preseason ice 

 reconnaissance detachment (IRD) of the 

 year departed on 11 February 1998. The 

 1998 IIP season opened on 13 February, 

 and from this date until 31 July 1998, an 

 IRD operated from Newfoundland 

 approximately every other week. The 

 season officially closed on 31 July 1998. 



MP's Operations Center in Groton, 

 Connecticut analyzed the iceberg sighting 

 information from the IRDs, ships, Canadian 



Ice Service (CIS) sea ice/iceberg 

 reconnaissance flights, and other sources. 

 IIP received 1,283 reports (Figure 2) and 

 merged 4,644 targets (Figure 3) into the 

 iceBerg Analysis and Prediction System 

 (BAPS) model, the computer program IIP 

 uses to track icebergs. Air 



reconnaissance, consisting of U.S. Coast 

 Guard (IIP) and other air reconnaissance 

 (which includes CIS), was the major source 

 of iceberg sighting reports this season, 

 accounting for 80% of the icebergs 

 detected. 



Although ships provided only 7% of 

 the iceberg sightings received by IIP in 

 1998, they accounted for 76% of the total 

 number of reports submitted to IIP in 1998. 

 Their continued active participation 

 indicates the value they place on HP's 



Figure 1. IIP Operations Area on Grand Banks. Location ot Hibernia GBS shown by "H", location of 

 TITANIC sinking shown by "T. 



