Svalbard’s glaciers release approximately 5 billion cubic metres of icebergs into the sea every year. We head out for anywhere from 1 to 7 days to find the perfect ice. The icebergs need to be from the most protected inner part of the glacier. The presence of ancient air bubbles, which make a crackling sound as they melt, is a key sign that the right pre-industrial era iceberg has been found. The source ice can be up to 4000 years old and requires no chemical treatment.
The iceberg must then be carefully lifted out of the arctic water. This is hazardous work. Rough seas can threaten to crash tonnes of ice against the Ulla Rinman, our gathering vessel. Calving glaciers can shoot pieces of ice hundreds of metres.