INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL 1958 



In accordance with the terms of the International Convention 

 on Safety of Life at Sea, London, 1948, the International Ice 

 Patrol was again conducted in 1958 by the United States Coast 

 Guard and was the 39th such patrol carried out by this organization. 



The patrol operated from 15 March to 16 June and marked one 

 of the lightest ice years in the records of the International Ice 

 Patrol. This is in marked contrast to the 1957 season which was 

 one of the heaviest. For the fourth consecutive year, Capt. Ken- 

 neth S. Davis, United States Coast Guard, was assigned the 

 duties of Commander, International Ice Patrol. The operating 

 forces assigned to Captain Davis' command were the U.S. Coast 

 Guard Air Detachment, Argentia, Newfoundland, (Comdr. Charles 

 E. Sharp, USCG) ; U.S. Coast Guard Radio Station NIK, Argentia, 

 Nfld., U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Evergreen, oceanographic vessel, 

 (Lt. Comdr. Sumner R. Dolber, USCG) and the standby patrol 

 vessels USCGC Acushnet (Lt. Comdr. Harold F. Lynch, USCG) 

 and USCGC Tamaroa (Lt. Comdr. Henry E. Steel, USCG). 



Primary ice observation for the season was conducted by air- 

 craft. As usual, reports from merchant and Government vessels 

 provided an indispensable means of collecting data. Additional 

 valuable ice information was furnished by the Canadian Ice 

 Information Office at Halifax, the Canadian National Telegraphs 

 at St. John's and the United States Navy Long Range Ice Recon- 

 naissance Unit at Argentia, Newfoundland. 



The office of Commander, International Ice Patrol was moved 

 to the United States Naval Station at Argentia, Newfoundland on 

 11 March and the patrol was formally inaugurated on 14 March 

 with two ice observation flights that date and the first ice ad- 

 visory broadcast by Radio Station NIK that night. The ice 

 situation that date showed extremely light conditions. There were 

 no icebergs south of latitude 52° N, and the Arctic pack in its 

 seasonal southward movement only had arrived at Belle Isle, far 

 behind the average date. 



Subnormal ice conditions remained prevalent throughout the 

 season and at no time were the major transatlantic shipping lanes 

 endangered by ice. Almost all Newfoundland ports either re- 

 mained ice free or opened earlier than at any time in history. 

 Residents of Newfoundland enjoyed a particularly warm winter 



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