Winter Navigation through the Strait of Belle Isle

Extract

The shortest route from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River to Europe passes through the Strait of Belle Isle. The alternative routes pass through the Cabot Strait and are between 100 and 400 miles longer according to the European port of destination. The Strait of Belle Isle is, however, normally closed to navigation from the end of December until the middle of July due to the presence of pack ice and icebergs.

Air reconnaissance patrols flown over the Labrador, Belle Isle and East Newfoundland areas seem to indicate that, for the past few years at least, ice conditions have not been so severe as to hamper navigation throughout the normal period of closure. Consolidated ice is only present from the third week of January to mid-February and clears in mid-April to mid-May; only icebergs present a problem in May and June. It is hoped t o show that with proper air reconnaisance at the beginning and end of the ice season, navigation through the Strait could be extended to eight or nine months of the year, or even longer, instead of the present short season of only 5½ months.