Bulletin No. 87 

 REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC 



' Season of 2001 

 CG-188-56 



FonA/arded herewith is Bulletin No. 87 of the International Ice Patrol, describing the 

 Patrol's services, ice observations and conditions during the 2001 season. While 

 hundreds of icebergs once again made their annual sojourn south, 2001 turned out to be 

 an "inshore year" with much of the iceberg population remaining close to the coast of 

 Labrador and Newfoundland. The low number (fewer than 90) of icebergs reaching the 

 primary transatlantic shipping lanes despite the large total population once again served 

 to reinforce the challenges of monitoring and predicting iceberg drift and deterioration in 

 the unpredictable weather conditions and dynamic ocean currents that influence the 

 Grand Banks region of the North Atlantic. 



This year's report also contains an excerpt (Appendix C) from the Safety of Life at Sea 

 (SOLAS) convention outlining the rules for management, operation and financing of the 

 Ice Patrol. Several significant changes go into effect beginning with the 2002 ice season 

 including a requirement making use of the Ice Patrol's services mandatory-- "S/7/ps 

 transiting the region of icebergs guarded by thie Ice Patrol during the ice season 

 are required to make use of the services provided by the Ice Patrol. " 



We have chosen a photo of Rear Admiral Edward "Iceberg' Smith, U. S. Coast Guard (a 

 Lieutenant Commander at the time of the photo), to adorn the cover of this year's report. 

 While 40 years have passed since Rear Admiral Smith died on his birthday, Sunday 

 October 29, 1961, his pioneering oceanographic work with the International Ice Patrol 

 remains the foundation for the Patrol's operations and successes today. I take great 

 pleasure in this opportunity to honor Iceberg Smith for he is a long time personal hero. 

 He truly embodied the persona of Lifesaver, Guardian, and Warrior that is the heritage, 

 essence, and strength of the U. S. Coast Guard. Appendix D contains additional 

 information on Rear Admiral Smith's long and distinguished U. S. Coast Guard career 

 and his many accomplishments both with the International Ice Patrol and later as 

 Director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. I hope you will take time to learn 

 more about this important figure in International Ice Patrol history. 



L. DESH 

 Commander, U. S. Coast Guard 

 Commander, International Ice Patrol 



