INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL 1970 



The 1970 International Ice Patrol Service in 

 the North Atlantic Ocean was conducted by the 

 U.S. 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 informa- 

 tion on ice conditions in tlie North Atlantic. Dur- 

 ing the ice season, the southeastern, southern, and 

 southwestern limits of the regions of icebergs in 

 the vicinity of the Grand Banks of Newfound- 

 land 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, and affords assistance 

 to ships and crews requiring aid within the limits 

 of operation of Ice Patrol forces. 



The International Ice Patrol is directed from 

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

 Base, Governors Island, New York. The Ice 

 Patrol Office gathers ice and other environmental 

 reports from various sources, maintains an ice 

 plot, forecasts ice conditions, prepares the Ice 

 Bulletin, answers requests for special ice infor- 

 mation, and maintains operations control of the 

 Ice Reconnaissance Detachment, the Ice Patrol 

 oceanographic ship and the Surface Patrol ship 

 when assigned. 



Responsibility as Commander, International 

 Ice Patrol, was held as indicated below: 



Rear Admiral Mark A. WHALEN, USCG 



—until 1 June 1970 

 Captain James M. INIcLAUGHLIN, USCG 



1-29 June 1970. 

 Rear Admiral Benjamin F. ENGEL, USCG 

 —after 29 June 1970 



Commander James R. KELLY, USCG, was 

 directly responsible for the management of the 

 Patrol. 



Preseason Ice Patrol flights were made in Sep- 

 tember and December, 1969, and in January, 

 February, and March, 1970. In February 1970, 

 the Ice Patrol was notified that the U.S. Naval 

 Station at Argentia, Newfoundland, would be 

 "phased down" in the spring of 1970. In the past 

 the station had been the site of Ice Patrol Radio 

 Station NIK and the airfield from which the Ice 

 Reconnaissance Detachment operated. 



The Ice Reconnaissance Detachment deployed 

 to Argentia on 17 March, then redeployed to 

 Canadian Forces Base Summerside, Prince Ed- 

 ward Island, on 30 April. The detachment re- 

 turned to the United States on 24 July. 



The 1970 ice season officially commenced at 

 0000 G3IT 24 March when the first Ice Bulletin 

 was issued, and continued until 25 July. The 

 twice daily Ice Bulletin was broadcast by Inter- 

 national Ice Patrol Radio Station, Boston/NIK, 

 U.S. Naval Radio Station, Washington/NSS, 

 Canadian Forces Radio Station, Mill Cove/CFH, 

 and Canadian Coastal Radio Station, St. Johns/ 

 VON. Commencing 11 June the Ice Bulletin was 

 included on the U.S. Marine Information Broad- 

 cast for the High Seas of the North Atlantic, a 

 voice broadcast. The facsimile ice chart was un- 

 able to be transmitted during the 1970 season. 



The USCGC Evergreen^ commanded by Lieu- 

 tenant Commander Robert E. PHELPS, USCG, 

 conducted oceanographic cruises for the Ice Pa- 

 trol during the periods 1-27 April, and 13 May- 

 6 June. For the eleventh consecutive year it was 

 unnecessary to use a surface patrol ship. 



During the 1970 season 85 icebergs drifted 

 south of 48N, a relatively light 



