INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL, 1962 



The International Ice Patrol was operated in the North Atlantic 

 ocean from 6 March to 22 June, 1962 by the U.S. Coast Guard for 

 the protection of shipping in the vicinity of the Grand Banks, carrying 

 out the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of 

 Life at Sea, London, 1948. 



This was a light ice year for the Grand Banks region. An estimated 

 120 bergs drifted south of 48° N., as compared to the 50-year average 

 of 370. The number of bergs drifting south of 48° N. was almost 

 exactly the same as 1961, but this year was marked by a greater 

 number of bergs drifting east along the north slope of the Grand 

 Banks causing more potential thi'eat to the shipping tracks. 



Capt. Ross P. Bullard, USCG, served as Commander, International 

 Ice Patrol. Facilities available to the Commander consisted of air- 

 craft from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Detachment, Argentia, New- 

 foundland; U.S. Coast Guard Radio Station NIK, Argentia, New- 

 foundland; U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Evergreen (Oceanographic vessel); 

 and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Acushnet and Tamaroa, standby 

 patrol vessels. For the third successive year the standby patrol 

 vessels were not required. 



As in all the years since World War II, the main source of ice infor- 

 mation was from planned aerial reconnaissance. Ice reports from 

 merchant and government vessels traversing the area were a supple- 

 mentary source. Additional valuable information was received from 

 the Canadian Ice Central, Halifax, the Canadian National Telegraph 

 at St. Johns, Newfoundland, Danish sources in Greenland and the 

 U.S. Navy. 



The Office of Commander, International Ice Patrol, was moved from 

 Woods Hole, Mass., to the U.S. Naval Station, Argentia, Newfound- 

 land on 28 February, and patrol services were effective on 6 March 

 with the broadcast of the first ice information bulletin. There was 

 practically no movement of ice in March as the predominant north- 

 easterly surface winds contained the bergs and pack ice close along- 

 shore. In April, a new pattern was established as the average winds 

 became west-southwesterly, driving the pack ice and many bergs from 

 the bays and along the coast out to sea. Approximately one-half of 

 the estimated 170 bergs south of Funk Island in early April moved 

 into the east branch of the Labrador Current and moved rapidly 

 eastward between 48° N. and 49° N. Only a handful of these bergs 



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