A short overview about the EU-LSF INTERICE II project conducted in the Arctic Environmental Test Basin of the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) in Hamburg, Germany, is given. The project team investigated physical, bio-geochemical, and sedimentological aspects of sea ice growth processes. Some features from the microstructure studies are presented. These include crystal and pore space data from a freeze-melt-refreeze cycle and from ice grown at different under-ice currents, and temperature measurements at the progressing ice water interface. The feasibility of large ice tank studies is discussed.