Introduction 



This is the 69th annual report on the Interna- 

 tional Ice Patrol Service in the North Atlantic. It 

 contains information on ice conditions and Ice 

 Patrol operations for 1983. The U. S. Coast 

 Guard conducts the International Ice Patrol 

 Service in the North Atlantic Ocean under the 

 provisions of Title 46, U. S. Code, Sections 738, 

 738a through 738d, and the International Con- 

 vention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 

 1960, regulations 5-8. This service has been pro- 

 vided annually since the sinking of the RMS 

 TITANIC on April 15, 1912. Commander, Interna- 

 tional Ice Patrol, working under Commander, 

 Coast Guard Atlantic Area, directed the Interna- 

 tional Ice Patrol from offices located at Gover- 

 nors Island, New York. The office analyzes ice 

 and environmental data, prepares the daily ice 

 bulletins and facsimile charts, and replies to 

 any requests for special ice information. It also 

 controls the aerial Ice Reconnaissance Detach- 

 ment and any surface patrol cutters when 

 assigned, both of which patrol the 

 southeastern, southern and southwestern 

 limits of the Grand Banks region (40°N to 52°N 

 and 39 °W to 57 °W) for icebergs. 



Vice Admiral Wayne E. Caldwell, U. S. Coast 

 Guard, was Commander, Atlantic Area during 

 the 1983 Ice Patrol season. Commander J. J. 



McClelland, Jr., U. S. Coast Guard, was Com- 

 mander, International Ice Patrol until he was 

 relieved on 15 July 1983. Lieutenant Com- 

 mander A. D. Summy, U. S. Coast Guard was 

 Acting Commander, International Ice Patrol 

 from then until the season's end on 26 August 

 1983. 



Two pre-season deployments were made 

 from 26-29 January 1983 and 10-14 February 

 1983 to determine the early season iceberg 

 distribution. Based on these trips, regular 

 deployments started on 18 February with the 

 1983 season officially opening on 22 February. 



From that date until 27 August 1983, an aerial 

 Ice Reconnaissance Detachment (ICERECDET) 

 operated from Gander, Newfoundland, one 

 week out of two during the season. The season 

 officially closed on 26 August 1983. 



No U. S. Coast Guard cutters were deployed 

 to act as surface patrol vessels this year. The 

 USCGC NORTHWIND was deployed to provide 

 oceanographic support to Ice Patrol from 21-27 

 March 1983. 



During the 1983 season, an estimated 1352 

 icebergs drifted south of 48°N latitude. Table 1 

 shows monthly estimates of icebergs that 

 crossed 48 °N. 



Table 1 

 Estimated Number of Icebergs South of Latitude 48 Degrees N, 1983 Season 



OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP 



