Discovery of Explorer Shackleton’s Final Ship ‘Intact’ on Ocean Floor
A ship associated with Sir Ernest Shackleton’s last journey has been located off the Canadian coast – more than six decades after it went down.
Shackleton, an Irish explorer, tragically passed away from a heart attack aboard the Quest during an expedition to reach Antarctica in January 1922 at the age of 47.
Following Shackleton’s demise, the Quest was obtained by a Norwegian company and was part of various voyages until it sank on 5 May 1962 due to ice damage. Fortunately, all crew members survived the incident.
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society-led Shackleton Quest Expedition has now located the shipwreck “intact” on the sea floor in the Labrador Sea off Newfoundland.
Polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Pic: PA
The steamship with schooner rigging lies at a depth of 390m on the ocean floor and was identified by searchers using sonar technology.
This discovery coincides with the 150th anniversary of Shackleton’s birth and has been described as “one of the final chapters in [his] remarkable tale” by John Geiger, the leader of the expedition.
The team behind the discovery: Antoine Normandin, John Geiger and David Mearns. Pic: PA
Reflecting on Shackleton’s legacy, expedition leader John Geiger stated, “Shackleton was distinguished for his bravery and exceptional leadership during crises. The unfortunate circumstance is that his was the lone fatality among those under his direct command.”
The ship’s search director, David Mearns, emphasized, “She remains intact.”
“Data obtained from high-resolution side scan sonar images precisely matches the known dimensions and structure of this remarkable vessel. It also aligns with the events surrounding the sinking,” he added.
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Another ship linked to Shackleton, the Endurance, was recovered in 2022, having sunk in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea after becoming trapped in pack ice in 1915.
