The Endurance22 Expedition has identified the remains of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, which has been missing since it was smashed by ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915, according to the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust.
Endurance was discovered at a depth of 3008 metres in the Weddell Sea, one hundred years after Shackleton’s death, inside the search area established by the expedition team before its departure from Cape Town, and about four miles south of the site initially recorded by Captain Worsley.
The crew used Saab’s Sabertooth hybrid underwater search vehicles from the S.A. Agulhas II, a South African polar research and logistics vessel operated by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and captained by Capt. Knowledge Bengu. The wreck is protected as a Historic Site and Monument under the Antarctic Treaty, assuring that it will not be harmed or disturbed in any manner while being examined and filmed.
The Chairman of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, Donald Lamont, said:
“Not only did we want to find, inspect, and film the wreck for Endurance22, but we also wanted to undertake significant scientific research and operate an outstanding outreach programme.” Today’s festivities are understandably tempered by world circumstances, and everyone engaged with Endurance22 remembers and prays for all touched by these ongoing horrific occurrences.
“Today, Mensun Bound, Director of Exploration, and Nico Vincent, Subsea Project Manager, are in the limelight. They have discovered Endurance under the exceptional guidance of Dr. John Shears. This success, however, has been the result of remarkable cooperation among many people, both on board the remarkable SA Agulhas II with its outstanding Master and crew, a skilled and committed expedition team, and many others in the UK, South Africa, Germany, France, the United States, and elsewhere on whose support we have relied. The Trustees express their heartfelt gratitude and heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable achievement.”
“By far the most beautiful wooden wreckage I’ve ever seen.” It stands straight, high of the seafloor, undamaged, and in excellent condition. The word ‘Endurance’ is even arced over the stern.
“This is a watershed moment in arctic history,” stated Mensun Bound, Director of Exploration.
According to Mensun Bound, the expedition’s Director of Exploration:
“Our amazing fortune in finding and photographing Endurance has left us speechless. This is without a doubt the most beautiful wooden shipwreck I’ve ever seen. It stands straight, high of the seafloor, undamaged, and in excellent condition. “Endurance” is even arced over the stern, exactly beneath the taffrail. This is a watershed moment in the history of the arctic regions. However, it is not just about the past; we are introducing the narrative of Shackleton and Endurance to new audiences, as well as the future generation, who will be charged with protecting our polar areas and our planet. We hope that our finding will pique the interest of young people and motivate them to follow in the footsteps of those who sailed Endurance to Antarctica. Captain Frank Worsley, the Captain of the Endurance, whose comprehensive records were vital in our search for the disaster, deserves special mention. I’d like to express my gratitude to my colleagues at The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust for allowing this incredible expedition to take place, as well as Saab for its technology and the entire team of committed professionals who were engaged in this historic discovery.”
Expedition Leader Dr. John Shears said:
“The Endurance22 mission has accomplished its objective. With the discovery of Endurance, we have created polar history and accomplished the world’s most difficult shipwreck search. Furthermore, we have conducted significant scientific study in a region of the world that has a direct impact on the global climate and ecology. We’ve also carried out an unprecedented educational outreach programme, complete with live broadcasting from the ship, allowing new generations from all over the world to engage with Endurance22 and be inspired by the incredible stories of polar exploration, as well as what humans can achieve and overcome when they work together. After an expedition that has been a real honour and honour for me to lead, we will soon begin our return leg to Cape Town. The Expedition team, as well as the commanders and crew of the S.A. Agulhas II, have performed well. I’d also want to congratulate The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust and all of our collaborators, particularly in South Africa, for their contributions to the expedition’s success.”
Subsea Project Manager Nico Vincent said:
“This has been the most difficult undersea endeavour ever attempted, with many world records set to assure Endurance’s safe discovery.” To reach this excellent end, state-of-the-art subsea technologies were used, and I’d like to thank the subsea team in particular for all of their engineering support, both on board the ship and during the months of planning, design, and testing. They all shown a level of dedication and perseverance that is commensurate with the best traditions of arctic exploration. I’d want to thank Saab for providing the Sabertooth, as well as their ace crew on board the SA Agulhas II and those who ensured the vehicles functioned as well as they did.”
The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition was a British-led expedition to the South Pole.
Sir Ernest Shackleton wanted to make the first land traverse of Antarctica from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea through the South Pole. The Ross Sea Team, which landed at Hut Point on Ross Island, was tasked with constructing supply dumps for Shackleton’s crossing party. They succeeded, but at a cost of three deaths. Endurance never made it to shore in the Weddell Sea, being stranded in strong pack ice, and the 28 men on board were forced to abandon ship. After months of living in temporary camps on the drifting ice floes, The party boarded lifeboats to reach Elephant Island, which was inhospitable and desolate. The lifeboat, James Caird, took Shackleton and five others on an incredible 800-mile (1,300-kilometer) open-boat trek to South Georgia. Shackleton and two others then sailed across the hilly island to the Stromness whaling station. From there, Shackleton was able to execute a successful rescue of the men waiting on Elephant Island and return them safely to the mainland.
Scientific Investigations
Over the course of the expedition, a world-class team of scientists from research and educational institutes led by Dr. Lasse Rabenstein, Endurance22’s Chief Scientist, successfully completed hundreds of hours of climate change-related investigations. Representatives from the South African Weather Service, Drift & Noise, the Alfred-Wegener-Institute in Germany, the German Space Agency (DLR), Aalto University in Finland, and Stellenbosch University in South Africa investigated ice drifts, weather conditions in the Weddell Sea, studies of sea ice thickness, and were able to map the sea ice from space. These essential research, when taken together, will significantly improve our understanding of this isolated location and how it effects our changing climate.
Education programme Endurance22
Educational outreach has been a primary goal of the trip from its inception. The FMHT collaborated with Reach the World, a US-based education organisation, and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) to effectively engage with tens of thousands of youngsters during the trip through frequent live stream interviews and classroom-ready content.
Exclusive documentary and coverage of the expedition
History Hit, a content platform co-founded by historian Dan Snow, Little Dot Studios, an award-winning digital content agency and media network, and Consequential, an impact driven production company, have created a variety of content covering the expedition’s planning, voyage and search, and now the discovery itself, as well as the history, science, and other themes related to the mission. Short-form material, such as that which breaks on TikTok, continues to be transmitted to millions of subscribers. The team has also been filming for a National Geographic-commissioned long-form observational documentary on the voyage, which will debut later this year.
This documentary event will air internationally on National Geographic in 172 countries and 43 languages before heading to Disney+ in Fall 2022 as part of National Geographic’s EXPLORER series. Exclusive stories on the Endurance will be published on National Geographic’s digital and social channels, including the award-winning podcast Overheard @ National Geographic and the National Geographic magazine. On natgeo.com, an in-depth account on the discovery of Endurance, including its historical significance, is now accessible.