But disaster is unlikely, because the National Ice Center is tracking B-10A and providing regular updates of its position.

While few modern ships are likely to run into an iceberg the size of Rhode Island, like B-10A, they certainly could hit one of the thousands of smaller icebergs that break away from the main mass as it floats into warmer water. Fortunately, the National Ice Center is tracking each and every one of them, as well.

Located in old Federal Building Number 44 on Suitland Road in Washington D.C., the National Ice Center tracks icebergs and ice conditions in the Antarctic, East and West Arctic Ocean, the Great Lakes, and Chesapeake Bay.

With personnel and equipment from NOAA, the Navy, and Coast Guard, the National Ice Center undertakes its overall mission to...

"...provide worldwide operational sea ice analyses and forecasts for the armed forces of the U. S. and allied nations, the Departments of Commerce and Transportation, and other U. S. Government and international agencies, and the civil sector. The NIC produces these analyses and forecasts of Arctic, Antarctic, Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay ice conditions to support customers with global, regional and tactical scale interests. The NIC regularly deploys NAVICECEN Ice Reconnaissance personnel to the Arctic and Antarctica in order to perform aerial ice observation and analysis in support of NIC customers. NIC ice data are a key part of the U. S. contribution to international global climate and ocean observing systems."

The National Ice Center is a perfect example of the many almost unknown, yet vital services of the United States Government.

"Cool" links to the National Ice Center: