Method of transporting ice structure

A method of providing an ice structure at a desired frigid, offshore location, said method comprising:

• constructing said structure at a first, frigid, offshore location where the atmospheric temperature is such that water exposed to the air will rapidly freeze to supply the ice necessary to form said structure;
• providing an internal cavity within said ice structure of a size necessary to provide sufficient buoyancy to cause said structure to float, said internal cavity being formed within said structure by melting ice from the interior of said structure and removing the resulting water;
• transporting said ice structure from said first, offshore location to said desired frigid, offshore location;
• and
• filling said cavity with a material dense enough to cause said structure to lose its buoyancy and sink to become grounded at said desired frigid location.

The method of transporting an ice island from a first offshore location to a second offshore location, said method comprising:

• providing a hole from the surface of the island to the interior thereof;
• supplying hot fluid through said hole to melt ice in the interior of said island;
• removing the water resulting from said melting of said ice and expelling said water from said island;
• continuing said melting and said water removal until an internal cavity is formed which provides said island with sufficient buoyancy to allow said island to float;
• ceasing said supply of hot fluid and capping said hole in said island;
• and
• moving said island to said second offshore location.