INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL, 1954 



The United States Coast Guard performed the International Ice 

 Observation and Ice Patrol Service for 1954 in accordance with the 

 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1948, and the 

 U. S. Code, Title 46, Sections 738-738d. 



The mission of the International Ice Patrol to afford protection to 

 shipping in the North Atlantic sealanes from the danger of drifting ice 

 was again carried out by collecting ice information from all available 

 sources, including own forces assigned, evaluating that information in 

 the light of available oceanographic and meteorological data (to esti- 

 mate ice drift and mortality rate) and dissemuiating to mariners up- 

 to-date information on the ice situation and routes recommended to 

 avoid ice. To the same end, a scientific program was conducted 

 dealing with the distribution and drift of ice in the North Atlantic 

 Ocean, the causes thereof, and devices for the detection and identifi- 

 cation of ice under conditions of poor visibilit}". 



To accomplish his mission. Commander, International Ice Patrol, 

 Capt. G. Van A. Graves, USCG, was assigned a staff of 3 officers and 

 14 enlisted men; radio and landline communication facilities and 

 office space at Argentia, Newfoundland; aircraft support provided by 

 the United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue Group at Argentia; 

 two patrol cutters, U. S. C. G. cutter Acushnet and U. S. C. G. cutter 

 Androscoggin; and an oceanographic survey vessel, U. S. C. G. cutter 

 Evergreen. In view of the efficiency of the aerial ice observation per- 

 formed by the International Ice Patrol and the disposition of the ice, 

 it was deemed unnecessary to have a surface patrol, and therefore the 

 two patrol cutters remained on standby in the United States through- 

 out the ice season. 



Following past practice, a series of preseason ice reconnaissance 

 flights was made by the United States Coast Guard Air Detachment, 

 Argentia, Newfoundland, to determine when Commander, Inter- 

 national Ice Patrol, should move his office and staff to Argentia and 

 commence operations. Late in January several bergs were discovered 

 by this reconnaissance off the east coast of Newfoundland between 

 latitudes 48° N. and 49° N. in positions where they might soon be 

 carried south by the Labrador Current and endanger the major trans- 

 atlantic shipping lanes. On the basis of this information the Inter- 

 national Service of Ice Observation for 1954 was begun with an ice 

 observation flight on 6 February. Part of the International Ice Patrol 



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