INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL, 1978 



The 1978 International Ice Patrol Service in the 

 North Atlantic Ocean was conducted by the United 

 States Coast Guard under the provisions of Title 

 46, United States Code, Sections 738, 738a 

 through 738d, and the International Convention 

 for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960, Regulations 5 

 through 8. The International Ice Patrol is a service 

 for observing and disseminating information on ice 

 conditions in the Grand Banks Region of the 

 Northwest Atlantic Ocean. During the ice season, 

 the southeastern, southern and southwestern 

 limits of the regions of icebergs in the vicinity of 

 the Grand Banks of Newfoundland are guarded for 

 the purpose of informing passing ships of the 

 extent of this dangerous region. The International 

 Ice Patrol also studies ice conditions in general 

 with emphasis on the formation, drift and 

 deterioration of icebergs, and assists ships and per- 

 sonnel requiring aid within the limits of operation 

 of the Ice Patrol forces. 



The International Ice Patrol is directed from the 

 Ice Patrol Office located at the U.S. Coast Guard 

 Support Center, Governors Island, New York. The 

 office gathers ice and environmental data from a 

 variety of sources, maintains an ice plot, forecasts 

 ice conditions, prepares the twice daily Ice 

 Bulletin, replies to requests for special ice informa- 

 tion, and executes operational control of the Aerial 

 Ice Reconnaissance Detachment, the Ice Patrol 

 oceanographic cutter and the Surface Patrol cutter 

 when assigned. 



Vice Admiral William F. REA III, U.S. Coast 

 Guard, was Commander, International Ice Patrol 

 through 30 June 1978. Vice Admiral Robert I. 

 Price, U.S. Coast Guard, was Commander, Inter- 

 national Ice Patrol for the remainder of the season. 

 Captain Thomas C. Volkle, U.S. Coast Guard, was 

 directly responsible for the management of the 

 patrol. 



Preseason Ice Patrol flights were made in 

 January and February, 1978. The Aerial Recon- 

 naissance Detachment was deployed to St. John's, 

 Newfoundland, on 20 March 1978. The detachment 

 returned to the United States on 20 July 1978. 



The 1978 Ice Season officially commenced at 

 0000 GMT, 21 March 1978, when the first Ice 

 Bulletin was broadcast by International Ice Patrol 

 Radio Station Boston/NIK, U.S. Navy LCMP 

 Broadcast Radio Station Norfolk /NAM, Canadian 

 Maritime Command Radio Station Mill Cove/CFH, 

 and Canadian Coast Guard Radio Station St. 

 John's/ VON. Ice Patrol Radio Station Boston 

 broadcasts an ice radio facsimile chart once a day. 



The USCGC EVERGREEN, commanded by 

 Commander Arthur B. SHEPARD, U.S. Coast 

 Guard, conducted oceanographic cruises for the 

 Ice Patrol from 31 March through 22 April, 1 June 

 through 26 June and 11 August through 2 

 September, 1978. 



During the 1978 season, an estimated 75 

 icebergs drifted south of 48 °N. Table 1 shows 

 estimated numbers of icebergs that drifted south 

 of 48°N. 



