A boat that was deliberately trapped in the Arctic ice in an effort to monitor the region’s changing climate has broken free after more than 500 days.

Tara sailed into the pack-ice in September 2006 and has been allowed to drift with the ocean currents and wind.

The two-masted manned vessel is crammed full of sensors to monitor the ocean, atmosphere and ice.

The ice-strengthened boat is now making its way to the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean.

“We are heading north in open water,” wrote crew member Vincent Hilaire in the ship’s log, which is published online. “The battle with the ice… is over.”