Why Do Ships Still Hit Icebergs?

As a follow-up to Bill Fitzpatrick's talk on the sinking of RMS Titanic, this interesting article looks at the problems that icebergs still cause even today with all our modern technology.

Shortly before midnight on 14 April 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank less than three hours later. The tragedy galvanised world leaders to hold the first Safety of Life at Sea convention to address the iceberg threat.

With only visual sightings and a shipboard radio to guide the Titanic safely through iceberg-infested waters, the liner was ill-equipped to detect its nemesis.

The conference after the sinking resulted in the International Ice Patrol (IIP), which was assigned to monitor "Iceberg Alley", the infamous stretch of ocean around Newfoundland. The IIP has been monitoring the area ever since, using aerial patrols and radar to determine the limits of iceberg danger, which they broadcast in a daily bulletin.

Full article at:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17257653

An image of Atlantic Canada taken on March 2, 2012 by MODIS satellite. This image highlights the growth of fast ice along the Labrador coast as well as the consolidated first year ice in Lake Melville.