INTERNATIONAL iCE PATROL, 1969 



The 1969 International Ice Patrol Service in the 

 North Atlantic Ocean was conducted by the U.S. 

 Coast Guard under the provisions of the United 

 States Code. Title 46, Sections 738, 738a through 

 738d, and the International Convention for the 

 Safety of Life at Sea, 1960. Commander, Inter- 

 national Ice Patrol collected ice information from 

 all available sources and disseminated it during 

 the ice season by means of twice daily bulletins 

 and radio broadcasts, daily radio facsimile charts, 

 and in response to special requests. 



Commander, International Ice Patrol directed 

 the Ice Patrol from offices located on U.S. Coast 

 Guard Base, Governors Island, New York. The 

 Ice Patrol aircraft and crew deployed to U.S. 

 Naval Station Argentia with ice observers, addi- 

 tional radiomen for the Ice Patrol radio station 

 (NIK), and other suppoit personnel on 12 March 

 1969. U.S. Coast Guard Radio Station Argentia 

 (NJN) assumed duties as Ice Patrol Radio Sta- 

 tion (NIK) at 0018 G.m.t. on 15 March 1969 when 



the ice season officially opened with the first Ice 

 Broadcast. Ice Patrol Radio Station (NIK) trans- 

 mitted twice daily ice broadcasts and daily ice 

 radio facsimile charts throughout the ice season. 

 During tlie ice season USCGC Chincoteagne, 

 commanded by Commander Thomas T. WET- 

 MORE III, USCG, and USCGC Cook Inlet, com- 

 manded by Commander Richard K. SIMONDS, 

 USCG, conducted oceanographic surveys of the 

 Grand Banks in support of the International Ice 

 Patrol. A surface patrol vessel was assigned, but 

 for the 10th consecutive year it was unnecessary 

 to utilize it. The Ic« Patrol Office on Governors 

 Island gathered ice and environmental reports 

 from various sources, maintained an ice plot, fore- 

 cast ice conditions, prepared the ice bulletins, 

 broadcasts, and facsimile instructions, and an- 

 swered special requests for ice information. The 

 ice season lasted 123 days, terminating on 16 July 

 with the 0018 G.m.t. Ice Broadcast. Ice Patrol 

 forces returned from Argentia on 16 July 1969. 



