Current, the patrol vessel Acushnet was required to stand by this berg 

 through its remaining life span to 10 August while it drifted into the 

 westbound Track "C." 



With the melting of the aforementioned berg, the ice menace to trans- 

 atlantic shipping ceased to exist and the services of the International 

 Ice Patrol were terminated for the season on 13 August. However, at 

 the request of Commander, International Ice Patrol, the Coast Guard 

 Air Detachment, Argentia, Newfoundland, made several post season 

 flights to preclude the undetected movement of stray bergs into the 

 shipping lanes. 



SURFACE ICE PATROL 



For the first time since 1950, ice conditions were critical enough as to 

 warrant the use of vessels for a surface patrol. Surface ice patrols are 

 not to be confused with oceanographic surveys which are for the purpose 

 of collecting scientific data and preparing a current map. The mission 

 of the surface patrol is to provide an on-the-scene guard over the southern- 

 most or more hazardous ice when major transatlantic lanes are, or are 

 about to be, menaced. 



During the season nine patrol cruises were made. Vessels employed 

 were the Coast Guard Cutters Acushnet and Evergreen, the latter required 

 to be diverted from its oceanographic duties in midseason. 



The patrols were not necessarily continuous but were ordered by the 

 Commander, International Ice Patrol as dictated by the current ice 

 situation. Vessel operations were limited to patrolling the ice-infested 

 areas in or near the steamer tracks. Since virtually all ice observation 

 functions were accomplished by aircraft, it was possible to confine surface 

 patrols exclusively to known or suspected ice-inhabited regions. This 

 combined air-surface procedure obviates the necessity for long and costly 

 surface searches that were characteristic of the years prior to World 

 War II. 



The decision to employ surface patrol vessels must weigh the need 

 against the expense involved. While aerial search is a primary means 

 of obtaining ice information, icebergs which encroach upon the steamer 

 lanes may drift for days in conditions of poor visibility when their 

 positions cannot be ascertained by aircraft. It is during such conditions 

 that a patrol vessel with its apparent advantages becomes necessary. 

 This season North Atlantic Track "C" was placed in effect on 24 July 

 in the face of one large berg which endangered this track from 27 July 

 to 10 August. The northward shift could not have been recommended 

 if the patrol vessel Acushnet were not available to stand by the berg 

 during this time. It should also be pointed out, however, that the 

 recommendation to shift tracks could not have been made if aerial 

 observation had not shown there was no further ice menace in the area 

 nor was any likely to occur again. 



