Review of old ice extents in Atlantic Canada: a preliminary assessment

• Main Author: Barrette, Paul D.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: National Research Council of Canada. Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering 2020
• Subjects: Arctic; Belle Isle; Canada; Newfoundland; Strait of Belle Isle; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4224/40002004; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/ft/?id=aab77f4a-9e6f-435e-9f6c-fdb1c211d724; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=aab77f4a-9e6f-435e-9f6c-fdb1c211d724; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=aab77f4a-9e6f-435e-9f6c-fdb1c211d724

Transport Canada (TC) is reviewing the Interim Standards for the Construction, Equipment and Operation of Passenger ships in the Sea Ice Areas of Eastern Canada, which contains information on old ice extents in Atlantic Canada. NRC-OCRE was asked to investigate if this information is still representative of today’s old ice extents, or if changes are required. Using the Canadian Arctic Shipping Risk Assessment System (CASRAS), a tool developed by NRC-OCRE, data on old ice extents in Atlantic Canada were collected for every month, from 1990 to 2019. This analysis indicates that monthly coordinates for offshore Newfoundland and Labrador may need to be updated. New preliminary dates and areas/coordinates for old ice extents are provided. The coordinates for the Strait of Belle Isle still appear valid. More definitive recommendations could benefit from alignment with recent editions of relevant regulations and from a refinement in the analysis. Peer reviewed: No NRC publication: Yes