Icebergs are a serious threat to maritime activities in the vicinity of the Newfoundland shelf and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Between January and September icebergs drift south into East Newfoundland waters. Their formidable presence makes icebergs an obstacle to Trans-Atlantic shipping, offshore oil production, and commercial fisheries activities.

Even using present day technology, icebergs are not easily detected by mariners. The Grand Banks of Newfoundland is known for fog and severe weather. The icebergs melt rapidly in East Newfoundland waters and break up into smaller pieces to form growlers, which are difficult for vessels to detect either visually or by radar. Consequently, it is extremely important that the iceberg danger be identified, tracked, and reported to the mariner.

Under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) agreement, ships must report all hazards to navigation. This package is intended to establish a standard format to report ICEBERG sightings to the Canadian Ice Service (CIS) and the U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol (IIP).

In order to effectively keep track of the position of the icebergs, CISD and IIP rely heavily on daily ship in formation forwarded to them directly (by INMARSAT-C Code 42) and via various US and Canadian Coast Guard Communications Centers. All ship reports provide invaluable information. Even the mention of "no icebergs" is valuable in itself. The ship reports are used by CIS and IIP to maintain accuracy of the iceberg database and to provide the mariner the best information on iceberg danger.

Broadcast stations and times are available through the British Admiralty list of Radio Signals, US Publication 117, or from a service announcement available on request from IIP.

Definitions:

Vital information - This information is vital for proper Iceberg Report.

Call Sign - The ships radio call sign. Used to identify the ship from which the data is transmitted

Date - Date that ship or iceberg is at given position in format indicated: YYYY MM DD.

Latitude - Ship or iceberg position in degrees, minutes and direction.
Formatted as DD MM N/S. This information is vital for iceberg.

Longitude - Ship or iceberg position in degrees, minutes and direction.
Formatted as DDD MM E/W. This information is vital for iceberg.

Method of Iceberg Observation - How icebergs are detected, visual, radar or both.

Number of Icebergs sighted - The number of icebergs sighted.

Shape - Iceberg shape using predefined terms. Icebergs fall into two major shape categories: Tabular and non-tabular.
Tabular icebergs are flat-topped, with steep vertical sides e.g. blocky. Non-tabular icebergs include pinnacled, domed, dry docked, and wedged. 'Unknown' should be used only when sighted by radar alone.

Ship Name - The name of the ship.

Size - Iceberg size in meters, using predefined terms.

GROWLER Less than 1 m Less than 5 m
BERGY BIT 1-4 m 5-14 m
SMALL 5-15 m 15-60 m
MEDIUM 16-45 m 61-120 m
LARGE 46-75 m 121-200 m
VERY LARGE Greater than 75 m Greater than 200 m

Time - Time that ship or iceberg is at given position in format indicated: HH MM. This information is vital for iceberg. This information is vital for iceberg.

Additional Information - This information is also valuable and much appreciated.

Air Temperature - Air temperature in Celsius. It is the measurement of the heat content of the air.

Dimensions - Dimensions of the iceberg, length, width, height (above water), in meters.

Direction - The direction that the iceberg is moving in degrees True.

Draft - Depth of the iceberg in meters under water.

Sea Ice Concentration - The concentration of sea ice in tenths.

Sea Ice Thickness - The thickness of sea ice in centimeters.

Ship Course - Course of ship.

Ship Speed - Speed of ship.

Speed - Iceberg speed in knots.

Wave Height - Vertical distance between trough and crest for wind waves in units of meters.

Wave Period - Wave period is the time between the passage of two successive wave (swell) crests past a fixed point in units of seconds.

Water Temperature -Sea Surface temperature to tenths of a degree Celsius. The temperature to be observed is that of the sea surface representative of conditions in the near-surface mixing layer underlying the ocean skin.

Dialog Operation:

Dialog Access - In order to create Iceberg Report, select 'Other Reports' and then 'Iceberg'' from the AMVER/SEAS menu. Clicking the button on the AMVER SEAS main menu also opens the report.

Entering a Iceberg Report:

Data Entry - Input the data into the edit boxes. For the pull down menu boxes select the right hand arrow key with the mouse. Then select one of the options that are displayed. Select the 'Display Shapes' button to see pictures of Iceberg shapes. Vital information is highlighted and shown with an asterix. Please fill this information out.

Add Individual Iceberg Information - Input the data into the edit boxes and into the pull down menus. Once the information is filled out click on 'Enter Iceberg Information' to create a list.

Edit Individual Iceberg Information - Double click on iceberg information in list. This brings up information in edit boxes. Edit information in edit boxes as necessary. Click on 'Enter Iceberg Information' to add corrected iceberg information to list.

Delete Individual Iceberg Information - Double click on iceberg information in list. This brings up information in edit boxes. Select 'Delete Iceberg Information' to delete information from list.

Data Transmission - Once the Iceberg Report is filled out then the data is saved ASCII transmission. From the menu select 'Save'|'Report' to save the data in ASCII or alternatively click on the 'Save Report' button. The data can now be transmitted as desired. See Transmitting Options.

Menu Operation:

File:

Print - Prints the Iceberg Report.
Exit - Exits and returns user to AMVER SEAS main screen.

Save:

Report - Saves the data in ASCII for data transmission.

Help: Brings up this page.

Transmission Options -

Report icebergs to COMINTICEPAT GROTON CT through INMARSAT-C or A, Canadian Coast Guard Marine Radio Stations, or as part of fishing observer situation report. If reporting iceberg sightings to International Ice Patrol through INMARSAT-C or A use Code 42. This will insure the information immediately reaches COMINTICEPAT GROTON CT. There is no charge for iceberg reports made using Code 42 (see below).

Canadian Coast Guard Radio Stations via normal communication methods (MF, HF, CW, or VHF).

INMARSAT- A Instructions INMARSAT- C Instructions
· Select Telenor (global identification code 01) · Access the 2-digit code on SES as instructed in your
· Select Routine Priority manufacturer's instructions
· Select Duplex telex channel · Using the SES text editor, prepare the message
· Initiate the call · Enter the 2-digit code of service required (42)
· Upon receipt of GA (go ahead), select the desired · Select the CES (01, Telenor, AORW)
2-digit prefix access code followed by a + sign · Transmit your message
(42+) · Wait for acknowledgement from the CES
· Send your message · The message will be forwarded at NO CHARGE to
· The message will be forwarded, at NO CHARGE to the mariner, to International Ice Patrol by Telenor Satellite Services.
IIP will forward the information to CISn.

Contact - for more information

Canadian Ice Service in Ottawa at International Ice Patrol
or
United States Coast Guard International Ice Patrol

International Ice Patrol
1082 Shennecossett Rd.
Groton, CT 06340-6095
(860) 441-2626
(860) 441-2773 (fax)
cis.client@ec.gc.ca iipcomms@rdc.uscg.mil
http://www.tor.ec.gc.ca/ice/
http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/iip/home.html

 

 

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