June 12th 2024.
Recently, the remains of the last ship belonging to Sir Ernest Shackleton, a renowned Irish explorer of Antarctica, have been discovered off the coast of Labrador in Canada. This discovery was made by an international team led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Using sonar scans, the team located the Quest on Sunday evening, resting on its keel under 390 metres of cold, turbulent water. Sadly, its towering mast lies broken beside it, most likely snapped off as the ship sank into the depths after striking ice on May 5, 1962.
News of this discovery has sparked interest and emotion, as Shackleton's death aboard the Quest in 1922 marked the end of what is known as the "heroic age" of Antarctic exploration. The daring explorer had led three British expeditions to the Antarctic and was in the midst of a fourth when he tragically passed away at the age of 47. John Geiger, leader of the Shackleton Quest Expedition, described the discovery as "profoundly moving", noting the strong connection between Canada and this legendary polar explorer.
Geiger also emphasized the historical significance of the Quest, calling it a very important ship. Built in Norway, it was used for Arctic research and seal hunting after Shackleton's death. Despite sustaining damage from the impact with the seabed, the ship appears to be in incredible condition.
Now that the wreck has been located, the next step will be to send down remotely operated vehicles to capture images of its remains. This will provide valuable insights and help preserve the memory of Shackleton and his expeditions. Interestingly, this is not the only discovery related to Shackleton in recent years. In 2022, the wreck of another one of his ships, the Endurance, was found in the Weddell Sea, a century after it was lost to the Antarctic ice.
To locate the Endurance, a team of marine archaeologists, engineers, and other scientists embarked on the Endurance22 expedition from Cape Town, South Africa. Equipped with an icebreaker ship and underwater drones, they combed the seafloor for two weeks before finally locating the wreck. This feat was made possible by the dedication of over 100 researchers and crew members.
Shackleton's ultimate goal was to become the first person to cross Antarctica via the South Pole, but unfortunately, he never achieved it. He also never set foot on the continent during the ill-fated Endurance expedition, although he had visited Antarctica on earlier voyages. His legacy, however, lives on through these remarkable discoveries and the enduring spirit of exploration.
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