intMnawsnal ice P&ua\ lea Plot iti MOO GMT 02 F*6 93 



Showing Oo.iiwed and Modolud IcotMferg 



PoS'iH>ns and Sua ico Edgo 



57" 56" 55" S4 : '53- 5?" Si • 5-3= 49' 48" 47- 46° 45° 44* 43" 42" 41 4C 



>< m .i i mi • " 



shipping. While all of 

 these factors are 

 considered, the 



ultimate decision is 

 based on his or her 

 comfort with the 

 potential level of risk 

 to the transatlantic 

 mariner. 



One dramatic 

 case where the Ice 

 Patrol Commander's 

 discomfort resulted in 

 a remarkably timely 

 season opening 



occurred in February 

 1993. Figure 3 shows 

 the iceberg distribution 

 on the evening of 1 

 February. Around this 

 date, the container ship 

 OOCL Challenge set 

 sail from Montreal 

 bound for the UK. 

 The season had not yet 

 opened. On 2 



February, after 



assessing the number 

 of icebergs south of 

 48°N, the Ice Patrol 



Commander elected to open the season by establishing the LAKI and commencing daily ice 

 warnings, based largely on the iceberg population in the shipping lanes. Meanwhile, the M/V 

 OOCL Challenge proceeded out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence toward the Grand Banks. On 4 

 February, two days after the Ice Patrol season had opened, M/V OOCL Challenge struck a 

 growler inside HP's published LAKI while steaming at 18.5 knots. The collision caused 

 "considerable damage, a 30' gash in the bow and additional cracking in the ballast tanks." 



It is not clear whether this vessel received HP's warnings on the 2 nd and 3 rd of February or 

 whether the ship's master would have changed course to remain outside the published LAKI. But 

 in this case, the Ice Patrol Commander's discomfort and subsequent actions gave the M/V OOCL 

 Challenge ample opportunity to steer clear of iceberg danger and avoid costly damage. In 1993, 

 two other vessels collided with icebergs inside Ice Patrol's published LAKI. Having the 

 capability to look back at 1993 is invaluable in shaping future Ice Patrol leaders' understanding of 

 the risk that ice conditions pose to the transatlantic mariner. 



39 



57 56 



A 



mi ■ » . ■ 38 



SS 54" 53" 52" 51 ' SO" 43" 46" 47" 4©* 45* 44* 4f* 4^• 41 40 39 



Limit o1 All Known lea 



Sea Ice Edge 



200 Me lor Bainymetnc Curvo 



Recta • 





C--J* L«Cw' a a 



"'.i'J.r " IN"' 



IhV hjh»™i *»•• ' +^n 4 DS wtj«iii 



NumtK' Ot IcoM'aanadur Targuln 



Figure 3. Iceberg distribution on 1 February 1993 (Red star represents 

 approximate position of M/V OOCL Challenge's collision.) 



52 



