INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL, 1963 



In 1963, for the 44th year since 1913, the Internatioi;ial Ice Patrol 

 was conducted on the North Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of the 

 Grand Banks of Newfoundland by U.S. Coast Guard operating 

 forces. Full services of the International Ice Patrol were provided 

 from 6 March to 21 June. Ice observation was conducted by air- 

 craft from 13 January through 23 July. An estimated 25 bergs 

 drifted south of 48° N. during the year as compared to the annual 

 average of 392 bergs since 1900, labeling 1963 as a very light iceberg 

 year. 



Capt. Julius E. Richey, USCG, was assigned the duties of Com- 

 mander, International Ice Patrol. Operating forces assigned to the 

 Commander included the U.S. Coast Guard Air Detachment, Argentia, 

 Newfoundland (Commander, Glenn O. Thompson, USCG) ; U.S. 

 Coast Guard radio station NIK, Argentia (RELE-2 Hershel A. 

 Drury, USCG); U.S. Coast Guard cutter Evergreen, oceanographic 

 vessel (Commander C. S. Changaris, USCG); and the U.S. Coast 

 Guard cutters Acushnet (Commander N. E. Westfall, USCG) and 

 Tamaroa (Commander H. A. Campbell, USCG), standby patrol 

 vessels. The Tamaroa was relieved as standby patrol vessel in 

 March by the U.S. Coast Guard cutters Chilula and Cherokee, 

 respectively; however, for the fourth successive season and the 

 12th of the last 14 seasons the standby patrol vessels were not 

 required. 



The primary source of ice information in the area for which Com- 

 mander, International Ice Patrol, is responsible was from planned 

 aerial reconnaissance. A secondary and indispensable source of ice 

 information consisted of reports from the merchant and Government 

 vessels of various nationalities. The Canadian Department of 

 Transport Ice Forecast Office, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the U.S. 

 Navy also furnished valuable ice information. 



For the first time Commander, International Ice Patrol, made 

 northern aerial ice observation flights to determine the Grand Banks 

 iceberg potential for the coming ice season. These flights were 

 conducted along the Labrador coast, across Hudson Strait to Fro- 

 bisher, Baffin Island, on 13-14 January and again on 13-14 March. 

 These flights indicated a very light iceberg year. Considerable 

 valuable information about berg drift rates, berg mortality, and 

 deterioration was obtained as a result of these flights. For details, 

 see another section of this bulletin. 



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