Patrol's efforts allow transatlantic mariners to safely use the most economical route through 

 normally iceberg-infested waters. As such, Ice Patrol reconnaissance in a light season is just as 

 critical as in a severe year since the decision not to establish a LAK.I is equivalent to declaring the 

 shipping lanes free of ice. Consequently, during both the 1999 and 2005 seasons, IIP continued to 

 monitor iceberg danger and prevailing environmental conditions. In 2006, to emphasize the 

 importance of HP's reconnaissance and communication with transatlantic shipping — especially 

 during a light year — IIP will adopt the SOLAS definition for ice season, which it designates as the 

 period between 15 February and 1 July. However, the issuance of daily products will be 

 determined in accordance with the direct iceberg threat to shipping lanes. Much like the concept 

 of a hurricane season, there will always be an ice season: each one just varies in degree of 

 severity. 



The light seasons of 1999 and 2005, while unusual, were not unprecedented. The 

 following section provides a historical context that discusses the evolution of Ice Patrol actions 

 during other years with light iceberg activity. 



Historical Context 



The number of icebergs (or amount of sea ice) south of 48 1> N is a key indicator of season 

 severity. This latitude is significant because it represents the location where the primary paths of 

 offshore icebergs intersect the major transatlantic great-circle shipping routes (Figure 1). The 



Figure 1: Potential icebcrg-danger area with great-circle shipping lanes overlaid in red (Note the 

 approximate position of RMS Titanic' s sinking.) 



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