About the skipper, Geir Aasebøstøl: Today R/K Ulla Rinman is operated by the company Svalbard Video Produksjon. The owner, Geir Aasebøstøl, has 28 year experience from Svalbard, among from governmental stations at Björnöya, Hopen and Ny Aalesund.  At Ny Aalesund he was employed by the Norwegian Polar Institute for 10 years, serving the last seven as head of the station. Geir also had the responsibility to the climate research station at Zeppelinfjellet, which due to its unique location is regarded as one of the most important such stations in the World.  The skipper is very concerned about what goes on with the climate in general and particularly with the melting of the sea ice in the Arctic. In this respect he takes on a great concern for the well being of the polar bear. As a top predator in the Arctic, the polar bear will experience severe problems when the ice vanish with the lack of seals to hunt as a result. No ice, no food for the polar bear! Geir has participated in research programs with the purpose of tagging polar bears. he has guided international TV-teams that have filmed polar bears and the Arctic nature. He is further more accepted as a video photographer for National geographic and is definitely one of the persons living permanently in Svalbard that know the polar bear best!