the broadcast of ice conditions by facsimile will become the major 

 means of dissemination in a few years. 



The annual iceberg menace to trans- Atlantic shipping is here to 

 stay at least for the foreseeable future. All icebergs that might 

 threaten ships cannot practicably be destroyed. Destruction by laser 

 offers some hope of reducing, but not of eliminating, the iceberg 

 menace, and it should be investigated. When man can someday con- 

 trol weather, the entire berg crop might be driven out to sea and 

 destroyed by nature between northern Labrador and Greenland and 

 eliminated as a threat to major shipping lanes. In the meantime, 

 all that can be done about the iceberg menace is to observe icebergs 

 as often and effectively as practicable, forecast their movement and 

 deterioration as accurately as possible betw^een observations, keep 

 shipping informed by all available means, and hope that nature will 

 destroy them as soon as possible. Of course the guarding of the ice 

 limits by aircraft alone or the aircraft-Patrol Vessel team, is far from 

 perfect. There are limitations to successful ice observing including 

 imperfect navigation, weather conditions, radar capability and 

 insufficiently developed forecast capability. Efforts should be con- 

 centrated on eliminating or reducing these limitations, thereby im- 

 proving ice observation techniques. The Ice Patrol Vessel must be 

 called upon when a prolonged and serious threat to the major tracks 

 at the Tail of the Banks develops. The Patrol Vessel can guard the 

 southernmost or most dangerous iceberg, or it can be used for scout- 

 ing critical areas when weather prohibits successful aerial ice ob- 

 servations. The founders of the International Ice Patrol recognized 

 and directed a study of ice conditions and current conditions. An 

 Ice Patrol research program is a necessity if the danger of icebergs 

 to ships is to be reduced. The research program should include 

 oceanographic surveys to determine ice environment, and to observe 

 the drift and deterioration of individual icebergs as related to its 

 environment. The research program should also include the study 

 and trial of instruments and techniques for improving ice observa- 

 tion effectiveness, and the study of ice conditions both on the Grand 

 Banks and in northern areas as related to meteorological and 

 oceanographic elements. 



In conclusion, it must be admitted that the iceberg limits cannot 

 practicably be giuirded continuously. There are also limitations on 

 the capability to accurately determine ice conditions as often as de- 

 sirable. The Ice Patrol makes every effort to provide the masters 

 of ships with the most accurate ice information available. Never- 

 theless, it is important that the master realize that the ice information 

 cannot be absolutely accurate. While the Ice Patrol does make the 

 journey of trans- Atlantic vessels safer, it cannot assure their safety. 

 The safety of each vessel is in the hands of its master. Nothing can 



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