Introduction 



This is the 71 ^t annual 

 report of the International Ice 

 Patrol Sen/ice in the North 

 Atlantic. It contains information 

 on ice conditions and Ice Patrol 

 operations for 1985. The U.S. 

 Coast Guard conducts the 

 International Ice Patrol Service in 

 the North Atlantic under the 

 provisions of Title 46, U.S. Code, 

 Sections 738, 738a through 

 738d; and the International 

 Convention for the Safety of Life 

 at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 

 regulations 5-8. This service was 

 initiated shortly after the sinking 

 of the RI^S TITANIC on April 15, 

 1912. 



Commander, International 

 Ice Patrol under Commander, 

 Coast Guard Atlantic Area, 

 directed the International Ice 

 Patrol from offices located at 

 Groton, Connecticut. The unit 

 analyzes ice and environmental 

 data, prepares the daily ice 

 bulletins and facsimile charts, and 

 replies to any requests for special 

 ice information. It also controls 

 the aerial Ice Reconnaisance 

 Detachment and any surface 

 patrol cutters when assigned, 

 both of which patrol the 

 southeastern, southern, and 

 southwestern limits of the Grand 

 Banks of Newfoundland for 

 icebergs. The International Ice 

 Patrol makes twice-daily radio 

 broadcasts to warn mariners of 

 the limits of iceberg distribution. 



During the 1 985 season. 

 International Ice Patrol 

 reconnaissance was conducted 

 by U. S. Coast Guard HC-130 



aircraft equipped with Side- 

 Looking Airtwme Radar (SLAR), 

 operating from Gander, 

 Newfoundland. No U. S. Coast 

 Guard cutters were depbyed as 

 surface patrol vessels this year. 

 There were 1 ,063 icebergs 

 estimated south of 48°N this year, 

 the traditional measure of the 

 severity of an IIP season. 



Vice Admiral P. A. Yost was 

 Commander, Atlantic Area from 

 the start of the 1 985 season, 1 4 

 March until its end on 29 August 

 1985. Commander Norman C. 

 Edwards, Jr., U.S. Coast Guard, 

 was Commander, International 

 Ice Patrol during the Ice Patrol 

 season. 



