This was meant to put boosters on the near-trillion-tonne berg, rifling it up into the South Atlantic and certain oblivion.

About 75% of the continent's margin has floating platforms of ice that can eject bergs.

The berg is expected shortly to step into a powerful current that will sweep it away into the Southern Ocean.

The berg is being ground down by the warmer air and surface waters it's encountering as it drifts slowly away from the White Continent.

“It is amazing to see this huge berg in person — it stretches as far as the eye can see.”