COMMUNICATIONS 



One of the major elements of the Ice Patrol force at Argentia was 

 Coast Guard Radio Station NIK. Here the merchant vessel reports 

 of ice, weather, and sea temperatures were received, and ice bulletins 

 to shipping were broadcast twice daily. In addition, teletype con- 

 nections were maintained with the v^arious major communication 

 centers along the Atlantic seaboard as a further aid in gathering ice 

 information from other sources such as military and commercial 

 transatlantic aircraft. This teletype service was also used to transmit 

 ice information to the United States Hydrographic Office, Washington, 

 D. C, where it was broadcast to shipping in the form of Hydrolants 

 and daily published Hydrographic Bulletins. 



Besides acting primarily as an ice collection and warning agency, 

 radio station NIK was alert to receive and handle distress messages 

 and render all possible assistance. Medical advice was available from 

 NIK through the cooperation of the medical officer, United States 

 Naval Station, Argentia. 



The value of Ice Patrol services is largely dependent on the efficiency 

 of its conmiunication organization. It is a constant aim to keep the 

 Ice Patrol communication system at peak performance. Suggestions 

 or criticisms from mariners are always welcome, and should be 

 addressed to the Commandant, United States Coast Guard, Washing- 

 ton 25, D. C. In 1952, it was noted that only a very small percentage 

 of ships crossing the ice patrol area actually made radio contact with 

 NIK. Mariners perhaps fail to realize that the reports every four 

 hours of weather and surface sea temperature requested by NIK may 

 be of great value in predicting the future movement of ice, even though 

 the ship's position ma}' be far removed from known ice areas. 



In 1952, radio station NIK commenced twice daily reports to the 

 United States Hydrographic Office on March 5, and the broadcast of 

 the twice daily ice bulletins to shipping began on April 30. Both 

 schedules were maintained until the termination of the ice season on 

 June 16. The ice bulletins to shipping were broadcast simultaneously 

 on frequencies 155, 5320 and 8245 kilocycles at 0048 G. C. T. and 

 1248 G. C. T. daily. The silent periods were observed. The broad- 

 cast was keyed automatically at 15 words per minute and repeated at 

 25 words per minute. Each broadcast listed the most recently sighted 

 or reported ice first and the distinction was made between ice "sighted" 

 and ice "reported." Ice "sighted" is that seen by Ice Patrol aircraft 

 or cutters and ice "reported" is that seen and reported by all other 

 sources. Each broadcast was concluded with a request that all 

 shipping in the area report ice, v/eather and sea temperatures to NIK. 

 Three frequencies were available to merchant ships for making these 

 reports, 468, 480, and 8250 kilocycles. Either of the first two could 

 be used after calling on 500 kilocycles, and the last was used if calling 

 was done on 8280 kilocycles. 



