ICE

&

ICEBERG

TOPICS
*

ICE ON THE SEA

* DIFFERENT TYPES OF
ICE
* ICEBERGS AND LIMITS
OF
ICEBERGS

ICE

TYPES OF ICE

SEA ICE

FAST ICE

PACK ICE

ICE BERGS

The FAST ICE is that ice which extends from the sho
about 25 miles into the sea. It remains attached to
coast and does not move.

The FAST ICE breaks off from the sea to become PACK I

TYPES OF ICE
SEA ICE

here are two kinds of sea ice encountered at sea. Sea ice i
ormed from seawater and icebergs, which break off from
he glaciers and form shelf ice. The cooling of surface water
ncreases its density and it sinks, to be replaced by warmer
ess dense water from below.
The process continues until the whole column of
water from top to bottom has attained its
maximum density and all the conventional descent
that takes place ceases.
Until this stage is reached ice cannot form at sea
it forms more readily where the water column is
stratified into layers of different density. In this
situation conventional sinking is confined to the
topmost layer.

TYPES OF ICE
SEA ICE

efore ice crystals begin to forming, sea water must attain a

ub zero temperature.
esh water freezes at a higher temperature than sea water.
ea water with a salinity of 34 % for example must be chilled
o 1.89C.
The surface of the ocean is chilled by the polar air,
but is not just the air-sea contact that must be
chilled to the freezing point.
As surface ocean water cools and increases in
density, it sinks and mixes with the slightly
warmer and deeper water lies immediately below.

TYPES OF ICE
SEA ICE

his requires that an upper mixed layer of surface water

must cool to slightly below the freezing point before the
ormation of sea ice begins.

ortunately the surface waters of the polar regions are

haracterized by low salinities. This low density surface
water effectively creates a lid on the heat that is contained
within water below the mixed layer.
Without the strong density gradient in the surface
waters,
the mixed layer would progressively deepen as it is
cooled. The fresh water seal, however, necessitates
only a shallow mixed layer be chilled to sub zero

TYPES OF ICE
SEA ICE

Once the surface waters are chilled to the freezing poin

very first ice crystals begin to form. Microscopic sphere
pure ice form first.

Under calm conditions, they can grow into long needle

hexagonal dentric stars. The ice crystals grow in size a
begin adhering to each other.

When the ice aggregates become large enough to be s

by the human eye, the sea ice is called FRAZIL ICE.

he formation of sea ice can be a lengthy process, especially

deep water with high salinity.
ea ice first forms in shallow water where the delay due to
onventional sinking is least.

TYPES OF ICE
PACK ICE
Pack ice is the ice which is free to move under the action
of wind and waves. Found in open water and when under
7/10 concentration often termed as drift ice. 1/10 to 3/10
concentration is sometimes known as sailing ice or more
often very open pack ice.
The pack can be described as very open pack ice (ice
concentration of 1/10 to 3/10), open pack ice (4/10 to
6/10), upto 7/10 the pack ice still remains navigable, close
(7/10 to 8/10, composed of floes mostly in contact) very
close (9/10 to less than 10/10) and consolidated (10/10)
with no open water visible.
Pack ice is reasonably free to move under the action of
wind and current. The concentration of the pack normally
decreases in the last few miles towards outer (oceanic)
edge of the ice, but this decreases depending on the lately
prevailing winds over a few days.

FORMATION AND DECAY OF SEA ICE

FRAZI
L
ICE

SLUSH
ICE

COALESCENCE

BREAKING

MULTI
YEAR
ICE

GREAS
E
ICE

SHUGA
ICE

2ND
YEAR
ICE

FURTHER
COOLING

ICE RIND
NILAS

BREAKING

PANCAKE
ICE

FURTHER
COOLING
THICKENING

1ST
YEAR
ICE

GREY ICE
GREYISH
WHITE
ICE

ROUGH
WEATHER

FRAZIL ICE,GREASE ICE, SLUSH ICE

and SHUGA ICE are classified as NEW ICE

ICE CAKES
/ FLOES

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ICE

FRAZIL ICE

GREASE ICE

Appearance
of
ice
spicules or plates with
maximum
dimensions
up to 25 cms
in the top few cms of
the water. These plates
form in large quantities
and give
the
sea
an
oily
appearance.
As cooling continues
the Frazil ice coalesce
to form Grease ice.
This has a matt
appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ICE

SLUSH ICE
Under a near freezing, but as yet ice free
conditions, snow falling on the surface and
forming a slush to form a layer of ice called as
SLUSH ICE.
SHUGA ICE
The SLUSH ICE that forms may break up under
the action of wind and waves to form what is
called as SHUGA ice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ICE

ICE RIND or
NILAS

When further cooling takes place, sheets of ICE RIND

or NILAS is formed, depending on the rate of cooling
and on the salinity of water.
ICE RIND is formed when water of low salinity freezes
slowly. This results in a thin layer of ice which is

NILAS ICE in the ARCTIC

NILAS are formed when water of high salinity freezes (pr

of freezing is mostly rapid) with the ice containing pocke
salt water. This gives rise to the ice having property of e

If the thickness of ice is < 5 cm it is called DARK NILAS

If the thickness of ice is 5 10 cm it is called LIGHT NIL

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ICE

PANCAKE ICE

The action of wind and waves may break up RIND and N

which later freezes together and thickens into GREY ICE
GREY WHITE ICE, the latter attaining thickness up to 30

Rough weather may break this ice up into ICE CAKES or F

The breaking up of RIND and NILAS into

PANCAKE ICE is termed as YOUNG ICE

NATURE OF ICING AT SEA

FREEZING RAIN
1.

This will cover a ship with fresh water

glaze ice.

2.
The accumulated weights of ice
onboard
are unlikely to be sufficient to
endanger
vessel
directly.
3.
Thethe
rates
of ice
accretion can be expected
to be commensurate with the rates of
accumulation of rainfall. These are not
great, especially in the colder climates.

NATURE OF ICING AT SEA

ARCTIC FROST SMOKE
1.

Arctic sea smoke occurs when air is

at least 9 C colder than sea.

2.

If air temp is below 0 c it is called

Arctic Frost Smoke. Small water
droplets in the frost smoke are super
cooled.
3.

On contact with a vessel, part of the

droplet freezes immediately.
The remainder stays as liquid for short time
before it, also freezes in the cold air.

NATURE OF ICING AT SEA

ARCTIC FROST SMOKE

4.

The instantaneous freezing of the super

cooled droplets results in the accretion
of opaque RIME ICE.

5.
Rime ice is porous and,
therefore,
can be removed easily unlike
the
CLEAR or GLAZE ICE.

NATURE OF ICING AT SEA

FREEZING SPRAY
1.

This is the most dangerous form of icing.

2.

It occurs when the air temp is

below the freezing temp of sea
water,
which is about -3 C.
3.

The spray freezes on the exposed

surface of the vessel. CLEAR ICE or
GLAZE ICE forms.

NATURE OF ICING AT SEA

FREEZING SPRAY
4.

At extremely low temp -17 C and below,

the wind induced spray will be frozen
before it strikes the vessel and form
drifts on the deck.

5.
Air temp below -2 C FREEZING
SPRAY forms in wind speeds of
18 knots and higher.
6.

Lower the air temp and stronger the

wind, faster is the accumulation of ice.

NATURE OF ICING AT SEA

TOTAL RATE OF ICE ACCRETION DEPENDS ON:
1.

Design of the vessel.

2.
Loading
of
the
vessel.
3.
On her heading.
4.

On her speed relative to the WAVES

and RELATIVE WIND.

The exposed part of vessel is determined

by this because the spray blown from
wave caps adds to the spray generated
by the vessels movement.

ICE ACCRETION
HAZARDS OF ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON SHIPS

Can also cause possible breakdown of communication d

to icing up of aerials/antennae.
Dangerous for crew to work on deck and reduction in
effective working time due to cold conditions.
Slippery decks can also be considered a hazard
due to ice accretion.

All these hazards affect the seaworthiness and maneuve

of a ship. If ice accretion continues and ice cannot be rem
their is a great danger of instability and possible capsizin

ICE ACCRETION
HAZARDS OF ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON SHIPS
The hazards of ice accretion on board ships
are:

ncreases ships KG thereby reducing GM of the vessel. It

increases displacement of the vessel reducing freeboard
the angle of deck edge immersion and an increased
ihood of capsizing if the vessel is heeled by the action of
d and waves.

Building up of ice due to head wind can result in extra w

forward which will cause bow to dive more heavily into s
which only helps to add more weight.

ICE ACCRETION
HAZARDS OF ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON SHIPS

An as-symmetrical formation of ice on ship can cause ve

to list and causing reduction in all aspects of stability.

Radio and radar failures may result from icing of aerials

Ice accretion can cause mooring problems because of
winches being covered up with ice and hydraulic lines
getting frozen up.
It can also cause damage to deck
machinery.

ESTIMATING RATE OF ICE ACCRETION FOR WIND

SPEEDSBETWEEN 22 & 34
BETWEEN 22 & 34
KNOTS

KNOTS

NO ICE ACCRETION

AIR TEMPERATURE C F

28 - 2.2
24 - 4.4
20 - 6.6

0.2
I

NC

16 - 8.8
12 -11.1
8 -13.3
4 -15.5
0
-17.7 -2.2
6.6
28
44

1.
0

0.
4
IN

CH

in

HO

UR

IN

CH

in

in

0.2 I
N CH
in 4
HOU
RS
4H

OU
RS

0.4
HO
U

RS

INC

Hi

n4

HO

0
8.8
32
48

2.2
36

4.4
40

UR
S

ESTIMATING RATE OF ICE ACCRETION FOR WIND

SPEEDSBETWEEN 41 & 55
BETWEEN 56 & >
KNOTS

KNOTS

NO ICE ACCRETION

AIR TEMPERATURE C F

28 - 2.2

0.2 INCH in 4
H O UR S
0.2 INC
H in 4 H
OURS
0.4 IN
CH in
4 HOU
RS

24 - 4.4
20 - 6.6

0.4
I NC
H in
4H
OUR
S

16 - 8.8
1.
0

12 -11.1

IN

CH

8 -13.3

in

HO

1.0
I

UR
S

4 -15.5
0
-17.7 -2.2
6.6
28
44

0
8.8
32
48

2.2
36

NC
H

in

4H

OU
R

4.4
40

AVOIDING HEAVY ICING

For complete protection from
shipboard icing, areas of strong winds
where the air temperature is below 2 C is to be avoided.

In case the avoidance of a strong wind area is

not practicable, the severity of icing can be reduced
by heading for less cold air and warmer waters.

Since warmer sea temperature means warmer air

temperature and the air temperature has a stronger
influence on rate of ice accretion it will be beneficial
to head for warmer area of sea temperature.

AVOIDING HEAVY ICING

In the Leeward side of the land even

though air temperature may be low,
reduction in wind speed will reduce
spray blown from wave caps.

However, in higher latitudes the Leeward of the ice

edge is not the right place. In these latitudes the
coldest air and sea temperatures are found leading
to severe icing.

ICEBERGS

FORMATION
OFof
AN
ICEBERG
Snow falls
on the ice cap
Greenland.
Then over the course of several months it
changes
into FIRN, which is basically a granular snow.
Several decades later it is compressed into
very dense
ice by the weight of the FIRN and snow that
have
accumulated on top of it. Therefore, icebergs
are
Driven by the enormous weight of the ice cap
composed of fresh water.
above, the ice begins to flow seaward through
openings in the fringe of the mountains
(thinking of it like water leaking out of a
cracked bowl may help).
This force moves the rivers of ice known as glaciers
up to sixty five feet a day, eventually pushing the ice to
Greenland's western coast.

GLACIERS
IN GREENLAND
The topography
of the land
along
the
coast
of GLACIER WHERE ICEBERGS
Greenland
governs
the
HAVE CALVED INTO THE
general form, size, and
OCEAN
rate
of
production
of
icebergs.
In some areas where the
glaciers meet the water
away from the coast, the
calved icebergs must work
their way down through
narrow fjords or over a
shallow sill. The size of the
icebergs that finally reach
open water IS restricted.
In other areas, the glaciers
reach the coast and calve
icebergs directly to the sea
which may account for

ICEBERG CATEGORIES AND DIMENSIONS

Size
Category

Height

Length

Growler

Less than 1 metre (3

ft)

Less than 5 metres (16

ft)

Bergy Bit

1- 4 meters (3 -13 ft)

5 -14 meters (15 - 46

ft)

Small

5-15 meters (14 - 50

ft)

15 - 60 meters (47-200
ft)

Medium

16 - 45 meters (51150 ft)

61-122 meters (201400 ft)

Large

46-75 meters (151240 ft)

123-213 meters (401670 ft)

Very Large

Over 75 meters (240

ft)

Over 213 meters (670

ft)

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SHAPE

In addition to the classification by size, there is also
a type of classification based on two basic types of
shape which are :
TABULAR ICEBERGS

These have steep sides and a flat top, much like a Plat
with a length-to-height ratio of more than 5:1. Many sh
horizontal banding.

NON TABULAR ICEBERGS

NON-TABULAR ICEBERG SHAPE CLASSIFICATIONS

NON-TABULAR ICEBERG SHAPE CLASSIFICATIONS

NON-TABULAR ICEBERG SHAPE CLASSIFICATIONS

WHAT ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS ICEBERGS?

All icebergs are dangerous to shipping.

Depending on its size, shape and location some icebergs
can be more troublesome than others.
Obviously, icebergs nearest the Atlantic shipping lanes
are of greatest concern to mariners.
Large icebergs, because of their great mass, can inflict th
most damage on a ship. However, they are usually easy t
detect on a ship's radar and therefore can be avoided.
On the other hand, the smaller an iceberg, the harder it is
for ships to detect and avoid.
For example, many GROWLERS or BERGY BITS are
mostly submerged and are about the size a small
vessel.
These "hidden" icebergs can cause a significant
amount of damage to a vessel.
Lastly, an iceberg's shape is a factor. A smoothed
iceberg can be more difficult to detect.

HOW MUCH OF ICEBERG IS BELOW WATER ?

1.About 7/8 ths of an iceberg is below the water lin

This figure is approximate.

2. Although icebergs are similar, not all are the sam

3. Varying factors are iceberg density, water densit

4. Keep in mind we are talking about an iceberg's m

5. Due to irregular iceberg shapes, icebergs may ha

varying heights out of the water, but mass is rela
consistent.

NORTH ATLANTIC ICEBERGS COME FROM

PROMINENT
GLACIERS
IN GREENLAND

The principal origin of

icebergs that reach the
North Atlantic Ocean are
the
100
or
so
major
tidewater glaciers of West
Greenland.
Between 10,000 to 15,000
icebergs are calved each
year, primarily from 20
major glaciers between the
Jacobshavn and Humboldt
Glaciers.
It is estimated that these
glaciers account for 85% of
the icebergs which reach

NORTH ATLANTIC ICEBERGS COME FROM

PROMINENT
GLACIERS
IN GREENLAND

Other sources of icebergs

are the East Greenland
glaciers, which produce
about half the amount of
icebergs as the West
Greenland glaciers, but
account for only 10% of
the icebergs reaching the
Grand Banks.
The remaining 5% are
thought to come from
glaciers and ice shelves
of
northern
Ellesmere
Island.

TYPICAL SIZE OF AN ICEBERG IN THE ATLANTIC

SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF ICEBERGS IN THE IIP
OPERATION AREA FOR 1994 ICE SEASON

SIZE CATEGORY

% OF
TOTAL

Growler

5.6 %

Small

15.3 %

Medium

15.3 %

Large

12.5 %

Very Large

2.8 %

General (Size
Unknown)

48.5 %

How do the Labrador and Gulf Stream currents affect

icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean?
After icebergs calve off of
Greenland's glaciers, they
drift into the Baffin Bay and
Labrador Sea and eventually
follow the Labrador Current.
South of the Grand Banks,
the remnants of the Labrador
Current
interact with the Gulf Stream
and warm-core eddies from
the
The
shows Labrador Current's
Gulf fig.
Stream.
origin and how it moves south along
the Labrador Coast and then splits
up around the Grand Banks south
east of Newfoundland.

How do the Labrador and Gulf Stream currents affect

icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean?
The water temperature of the North Atlantic ranges
from -1.7 C in the Labrador Current to 20C in the
Gulf Stream.
The cold meanders of the Labrador Current support
icebergs commonly as far south as 41 N. When
icebergs encounter the warm temperatures of the
Gulf Stream, they usually melt very rapidly.
However, in 1926, the southernmost known iceberg
reached 30-20 N, 62- 32 W (about 150 nm from
Bermuda).
In addition, icebergs have also been known to travel
as far east as the Azores.

How do the Labrador and Gulf Stream currents affect

icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean?
The circulation in the area where
the Labrador current and Gulf
Stream meet is very complex,
therefore
the
average
paths
shown in the above figures cannot
be
used
to
predict
iceberg
movement. The U.S. Navy provides
an analysis of the ocean features
in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. It
shows the complexity of the region
where the Labrador Current and
the Gulf Stream meet.
The
image
here
shows
the
interaction between the Labrador
Current and the Gulf Stream. The
Labrador Current has been colored
blue; the Gulf Stream colored red;
and land has been colored green.

is
located about 250 THE
milesICEBERG
east
and
SE of the island of
Newfoundland,
Canada. Iceberg Alley is
usually
considered to be that portion
of the
Labrador Current, that flows
southward from Flemish Pass, along
the
eastern edge of the Grand
This
area extends
Banks
approximately
of Newfoundland, to the Tail of
from
48 to 43 N at 48 W.
the Banks.
Icebergs and sea ice flowing
south from Iceberg Alley
created the Titanic disaster of
1912.

ALLEY

EXTREME RANGE OF ICEBERG LOCATIONS

The grey shaded area is the normal range of iceberg
distribution. The EXTREME ICEBERGS/ GROWLERS are
INDICATED.
Some of the notable extreme icebergs:
1926, the southernmost known iceberg
(a growler) reached 30-20 N, 62-32 W
(about 150 nm from Bermuda).
1883, a growler was located about
200 nm south of the Azores.
1907, an iceberg was sighted about
100 nm southwest of Fastnet, Ireland.
1912, a growler was seen about 75 nm
East of Chesapeake Bay, USA.
1912, R.M.S. Titanic collided with
iceberg located at 41- 46 N, 50-12 W.

Year

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Total

2000

000

000

000

000

000

286

239

212

065

041

000

000

843

2001

000

000

000

000

004

031

031

019

004

000

000

000

089

2002

000

000

000

000

016

173

316

308

064

000

000

000

877

2003

000

000

000

000

000

084

263

494

076

010

000

000

927

2004

000

000

000

000

000

000

024

114

117

007

000

000

262

2005

000

000

000

000

000

009

001

001

000

000

000

000

011

2006

000

000

000

000

000

000

000

000

000

000

000

000

000

2007

000

000

000

000

000

004

040

071

183

026

000

000

324

Total

115

121

121

311

1,576

6,404

12,807

15,868

9,182

3,214

889

320

50,938

Mea
n

001

001

001

003

015

59

119

147

085

030

008

003

471

BESIDES THE NORTH ATLANTIC, WHERE ELSE

MIGHT ICEBERGS BE FOUND ?
Icebergs are also commonly found around the ice
shelves of Antarctica or National Ice Center's list
of Antarctic icebergs and a very small number of
icebergs calve into the ocean in Alaska and in
Siberia or south of Franz Joseph Land in the
Barents Sea.

DEFORMATION OF ICEBERGS

Icebergs diminish in size in 3 different ways. They

CALVING

A berg calves when a piece breaks off; this distur

its

equilibrium, so that it may float at a different ang

or

it may capsize. MELTING

In cold water melting takes place mainly on the

water
- line. In warm water a berg melts mainly from
below and calves frequently.
EROSION
This is caused by wind and rain

DEFORMATION OF ICEBERGS

Cracks for one or more of the above reasons. The cracki

ice cannot only be audible to an observer onboard a ship
may be visually cause the iceberg to topple and assume
surface position.

As the Berg assumes a new stable position, the

broken piece, called BERGY BIT drifts from the
main Berg.
The BERGY BITS are affected by wave action and break
into GROWLERS as their height reduces from 4/5 mtrs t
and less. They are dangerous and poor targets for RADA

An iceberg may also ground at any point where it encou

shallow regions. From this time it can be expected to br
rapidly. Complete disintegration occurs into BERGY BITS
GROWLERS and small pieces.

LIFE CYCLE OF AN ICEBERG

The life cycle of a typical iceberg found in the
North Atlantic today might look something like this:

TIME LINE

ICEBERG DEVELOPMENT

1,000 B.C.

Snow/FIRN

950 B.C.

Ice/Glacier

--

Glacier movement

1998 A.D.

Calving

2001 A.D.

Iceberg melt

At the glacier's terminus or end, huge slabs of ice

LIFE CYCLE OF AN ICEBERG
weaken
and then broken by calving and results in an
iceberg's birth.
By the time these mountains of ice enter Baffin Bay
they
have seen nearly 3,000 years pass.
Once waterborne, icebergs are driven by strong
subsurface
currents, the core's of which are located at a depth
of 50 mtrs
approximately
(This occurs
because
7/8 of an
Therefore, deeper
currents
have greater
surface
icebergs
below
the waterline).
area to mass
push rests
against
compared
to winds or wind
generated surface currents.
This is why it is not uncommon to see icebergs
heading directly into strong winds.

LIFE CYCLE OF AN ICEBERG

One estimate is that of the 15,000 to 30,000 icebergs that is
produced annually by the glaciers of Greenland
only 1% (150 to 300) ever make it to
the Atlantic Ocean.
In order for an iceberg to
reach the North Atlantic the
currents typically take it
from Baffin Bay through the
Davis Strait and Labrador
Sea.
This is a long trip and most
icebergs never make it.
Most icebergs melt well
before entering the Atlantic
Ocean.
When an iceberg does happen to reach the Atlantic its
long and traveled life quickly comes to an end melting
rapidly in the warm waters. At most it will take two
months to melt.

LIFE CYCLE OF AN ICEBERG IN BAFFIN BAY

At most Atlantic bergs will take two months in
the warm waters to melt unlike icebergs stuck in
parts of Baffin Bay where it can take upwards of
four years for a berg to melt.

MONITORING OF ICEBERGS
Icebergs are monitored worldwide by the
U. S. National Ice Centre (NIC), established
in 1995,
which produces analyses and forecasts of
Arctic, Antarctic, Chesapeake Bay and
Great Lakes ice conditions.
More than 95% of the data used in its sea
ice analyses are derived from the remote
sensors on polar-orbiting satellites that
survey these remote regions of the Earth.

MONITORING OF ICEBERGS
The NIC is the only organization that names
and tracks
all Antarctic Icebergs. It assigns each iceberg
larger than 10 nm (18km) along at least one
axis a name composed of a letter indicating
its point of origin and
a running number. The letters used are as
follows:
A

Long 0 to 90W (Bellingshausen Sea,

Weddell Sea)
B
Long 90W to 180 (Amundsen Sea,
Eastern
Ross Sea)
C
Long 90E to 180 (Western Ross Sea, )
D
Long 0 to 90E (Amery Ice Shelf,

ANTARCTICA ICEBERGS
Icebergs calve from numerous ice shelves in Antarctica. When a
berg is first sighted, NIC documents its point of origin. The letter
of the quadrant, along with a sequential number is assigned to
the iceberg.

Quadrant A 0 E - 90 W
(Bellinghausen / Weddell Sea)

Quadrant B 90 W- 180 W
(Amundsen / Eastern Ross Sea

Quadrant C 180 W- 90E

(Western Ross Sea / Wilkeslan

Quadrant D
90 E - 0 E
(Amery / Eastern Weddell Sea
Eg. A-38 is sequentially the 38th berg found by the NIC in
Antarctica in Quadrant A. When a currently identified and named
iceberg breaks apart,
the new division/(s) are also named. Therefore if A-38 breaks into
three pieces, the three new icebergs would be designated as A-

MONITORING OF ICEBERGS AN OBSERVATIO

Iceberg B15, which calved from the Ross Ice
Shelf in
2000 and initially had an area of 11,000 km, was
the largest iceberg ever recorded. It broke apart
in Nov 2002.
The largest remaining of it, Iceberg 15A, with an
area of 3,000 km, was still the largest iceberg
on Earth until it
ran aground and split into several pieces Oct
27,2005.
It has been determined that the cause of the
breakup
was an ocean swell generated by an Alaskan

THE LARGEST ICEBERG EVER RECORDED

The largest icebergs
(also referred to as
ice islands) originate
from the vast ice
shelves surrounding
Antarctica.
The largest known
iceberg was from this
region.
Picture shows a a
berg that was roughly
the size of the State
of Rhode Island.

THE LARGEST ICEBERG EVER RECORDED IN ATLANTI

The largest known iceberg in the North Atlantic off of th

coast of Labrador. (Tabular iceberg)
The nearby Coast Guard Cutter is approximately 300 ft l

THE TALLEST ICEBERG EVER RECORDED IN ATLANTIC

The tallest known iceberg
in the North Atlantic was
550 ft high, extending
out of the water to
almost the height of the
Washington Monument, it
is the tallest iceberg
recorded to date.
This iceberg was sighted
in Melville Bay, Greenland
from the ice breaker
USCGC Eastwind in March
1957
in
approximate
position 75N, 67-30 W.

THE 2008 ICE SEASON

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 2002 CHANGES TO SOLAS, SHIPS
TRANSITING THE REGION GUARDED BY THE ICE PATROL ARE
REQUIRED TO USE THE SERVICES PROVIDED DURING THE ICE
SEASON.
THE 1200 UTC BULLETIN WILL BE
BROADCAST OVER THE INMARSAT
SAFETYNET (AOR-E AND AOR-W)
SYSTEM.
NBDP(FEC) BROADCASTS OF THE
BULLETIN WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM
COGARD CAMSLANT CHESAPEAKE/NIK
AT 0030 UTC ON 6314, 8416.5, 12579
KHZ & AT 1218 UTC ON 8416.5,
12579, 16806.5 KHZ.
NAVTEX ICE BROADCASTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM COGARD CAMSLANT
CHESAPEAKE/NIK AT 0045, 0445, 0845, 1245, 1645, AND 2045 UTC ON 518
KHZ.
RADIO FACSIMILE CHART WILL BE BROADCAST AT 0438Z, 1600 AND 1810
UTC ON 6340.5, 9110, 12750 KHZ, DRUM SPEED 120. BROADCAST TIMES
MAY BE OBTAINED BY CALLING (860) 441-2626 OR VIA INTERNET AT
WWW.USCG.MIL/LANTAREA/IIP/PDF/AOS_2007.PDF.