Introduction 



This is the 92— annual report of the International Ice Patrol, which is under the operational 

 control of Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. The report contains information on IIP 

 operations, environmental conditions, and iceberg conditions in the North Atlantic during 2006. 

 Funded by 17 member nations and conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, Ice Patrol was formed 

 soon after RMS Titanic sank on 15 April 1912. Since 1913, except for periods of World War, Ice 

 Patrol has been monitoring iceberg danger on and near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and 

 broadcasting the Limit of All Known Ice to mariners. The activities and responsibilities of IIP are 

 delineated in U.S. Code, Title 46, Section 738, and the Internationa] Convention for the Safety of 

 Life at Sea, 1974. 



The Internationa] Ice Patrol conducted aerial reconnaissance from St. John's, 

 Newfoundland, to search for icebergs in the southeastern, southern, and southwestern regions of 

 the Grand Banks. Lighter-than-normal ice conditions in 2006 never warranted issuing daily ice 

 warnings. Instead, IIP issued ice-chart and bulletin updates each Friday from 17 February to 1 

 July 2006. In addition to IIP reconnaissance data, Ice Patrol received iceberg reports from other 

 aircraft and mariners in the North Atlantic. At the Operations Center in Groton, Connecticut, 

 personnel analyzed iceberg and environmental data and used the BAPS computer model to predict 

 iceberg drift and deterioration. Based on the model's prediction, IIP produced the weekly chart 

 and text bulletin on Fridays. In addition to these routine broadcasts, IIP responded to individual 

 requests for iceberg information. 



VADM Vivien S. Crea was Commander, U. S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area until May 2006 

 when she was relieved by VADM D. Brian Peterman. CDR Michael R. Hicks was Commander, 

 International Ice Patrol. 



For more information about the International Ice Patrol, including iceberg bulletins and 

 charts, visit our website at http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/iip/home.html. 



INTERNATIONAL 

 ICE PATROL 



