In the ensuing years, Tampa operated as part of the International Ice Patrol established in the aftermath of the RMS Titanic tragedy in 1912.

Between March and July – the peak months in which icebergs were regarded as a menace to the northernmost transatlantic sea lanes – Tampa conducted regular patrols, alternating with USCGC Modoc (Coast Guard Cutter No.

Between these cruises in the frigid waters at the northern end of the Atlantic, Tampa operated on exercises and maneuvers, sharpened her skill with target practice and battle drills, and patrolled sailing regattas.

During this time, she participated in the drama which accompanied the tragic fire on board the Ward Line steamer SS Morro Castle.

At about 0230 on the morning of 8 September 1934, a fire broke out aboard the ocean liner SS Morro Castle as she was returning from a Cuba cruise.

The fires spread rapidly, and inept seamanship on the behalf of her captain – who had only taken command after the ship's regular master had died earlier that evening – resulted in the loss of many lives.

Moored at Staten Island, New York, when Morro Castle caught fire, Tampa received word of the disaster at 0436 on the morning of 8 September 1934.

Tampa passed a towline to the stricken ship, but it soon parted with the sharp crack of a pistol shot and fouled the cutter's screw.

When conducted in smooth seas, operations to save lives are difficult enough; the gale raging off the New Jersey shore on the morning of 8 September 1934 made matters markedly worse.

Tampa lost track of Chatham in dense fog on the 16th but regained contact near the eastern entrance of the canal and safely conducted the merchantman on her way.

Tampa, assisted by two naval vessels, soon floated the merchantman free; and the cutter continued her escort mission, routed onward to Greenland.

Bad weather soon hampered the convoy's progress; and the flank escorts, Comanche and Escanaba, soon had difficulties keeping station.

Biscaya quickly fired two green signal rockets and executed an emergency turn to avoid fouling the mortally stricken Dorchester.

Tampa subsequently searched for survivors on the 4th, but sighted only numerous bodies; two swamped lifeboats manned only by corpses; and seven life rafts.

With the cessation of hostilities in Europe in May 1945, Tampa resumed ice patrols off the Grand Banks in June through August, alternating with Modoc (WPG-46) and Mojave (WPG-47).