Introduction 



This is the 91 st annual report of the International Ice Patrol, which is under the operational 

 control of Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. The report contains information on IIP 

 operations, environmental conditions, and iceberg conditions in the North Atlantic during 2005. 

 Funded by 17 member nations and conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, Ice Patrol was formed 

 soon after the RMS Titanic sank on 15 April 1912. Since 1913, except for periods of the World 

 Wars, Ice Patrol has been monitoring iceberg danger near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and 

 broadcasting the Limit of All Known Ice to mariners. The activities and responsibilities of IIP are 

 delineated in U.S. Code, Title 46, Section 738, and the International Convention for the Safety of 

 Life at Sea, 1974. 



The International Ice Patrol conducted aerial reconnaissance from St. John's, 

 Newfoundland, to search for icebergs in the southeastern, southern, and southwestern regions of 

 the Grand Banks. However, the lightcr-than-normal ice conditions detected on reconnaissance 

 patrols never warranted issuing daily ice warnings. Instead, IIP issued an ice-chart and bulletin 

 update each Friday from 18 February to 1 July 2005. In addition to IIP reconnaissance data, Ice 

 Patrol received iceberg reports from other aircraft and mariners in the North Atlantic. (Ice Patrol 

 salutes the Mattea for providing the most ship reports during 2005.) At the Operations Center in 

 Groton, Connecticut, personnel analyzed iceberg and environmental data and used a computer 

 model to predict iceberg drift and deterioration. Based on the model's prediction, IIP produced 

 the Friday chart and text bulletin. In addition to these routine broadcasts, IIP responded to 

 individual requests for iceberg information. 



VADM Vivien S. Crea was Commander, U. S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. CDR Michael 

 R. Hicks was Commander, International Ice Patrol. 



For more information about the International Ice Patrol, including iceberg bulletins and 

 charts, visit our website at http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/iip/homc.html. 



INTERNATIONAL 

 ICE PATROL 



