SOUTHAMPTON shipper Wallenius Wilhelmsen has given a helping hand to explorer Bear Grylls in his bid to set a world record for the first ever crossing of the North Atlantic, via the Arctic Circle, in an open rigid inflatable boat (RIB).

Bear, who originally comes from Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, is making the attempt in a 33 metre craft which was being shipped to Halifax, Canada, on board Wallenius Wilhelmsen's vessel, MS Aida.

Adventurer, Bear, his first name is really Rupert, and his crew are to make the transatlantic bid next month in the 30 knot craft from Canada to Greenland and Iceland to finally come ashore at John O'Groats in Scotland.

During the four week-long attempt, the team and the £250,000 RIB could face mountainous seas, dangerous ice floes and bergs as well as hypothermia and exposure from freezing temperatures.

"It has taken two and a half years to put this expedition together as everything has to be geared to minimising the risk out there,''' said Bear.

"We will be vulnerable to ice, especially at night as some does not show up on the radar and we will be up to 1,000 miles away from the nearest land.

"The boat will be crossing an area of sea off Labrador notorious as the place where the Perfect Storm, which was made into a film, took place.''

Bear hopes the Transatlantic Arctic Expedition will raise about £50,000 through sponsorship for the Prince's Trust charity.