Bulletin No. 92 

 Report of the International Ice Patrol in the North Atlantic 



Season of 2006 

 CG-1 88-61 



Forwarded herewith is Bulletin No. 92 of the International Ice Patrol (IIP), describing the Patrol's 

 services and ice conditions during the 2006 season. The 2006 season marks only the second time 

 in HP's history that no icebergs were sighted or drifted south of 48° N. This Bulletin's Ice and 

 Environmental Conditions section presents a fascinating discussion on the oceanographic and 

 meteorological variables at play in this and other light seasons. Still, Ice Patrol personnel 

 vigilantly monitored iceberg danger and stood ready to begin broadcasting daily limit of all 

 known ice warnings but conditions never warranted this measure. Transatlantic shipping was the 

 primary benefactor - saving hundreds of miles on each voyage when compared to a severe season 

 transit. The 2006 season also marked the first operational use of an iceberg database synchronized 

 between IIP and the Canadian Ice Service (CIS). Appendix D of this Bulletin describes the 

 process in greater detail. This milestone underscores the strength of this international partnership 

 and the value of the broader North American Ice Service (NAIS), which is an alliance between 

 IIP, CIS & the U.S. National Ice Center. NAIS was created in 2003 to meet the combined ice 

 information requirements of the U.S. and Canadian Governments. Appendix E provides more 

 details on NAIS. 



The men and women of the IIP are proud of the work that this Bulletin represents and would be 

 delighted to address any questions you may have on the information presented within. Please read 

 and enjoy! 



■^w./^Mc^ 



M. R. Hicks 



Commander, U. S. Coast Guard 

 Commander, International Ice Patrol 



