It was thought to have disappeared forever in the waters of Antarctica, with no chance of being found since it was wrecked in 1915… But that was without counting on this week’s discovery. The ship Endurance, once owned by Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton, has just been found following a scientific expedition.
We thought we’d lost him. Here it is again. The vessel Endurance has been formally identified by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust. This is one of two ships used on an imperial Antarctic expedition. Ernest Shackleton, born in County Kildare, Ireland, was in charge, and his ambition was to make the first overland crossing of Antarctica.
One hundred years after Shackleton’s death in January 1922, the boat named Endurance was found at a depth of 3008 meters in the Weddell Sea, 6km from the official shipwreck site. All in exceptional condition!
Endurance is Found pic.twitter.com/e8VxYhmUCb
— Endurance22 (@Endurance_22) March 9, 2022
The discovery created euphoria among scientists, so legendary is the boat’s history.
It all began in August 1914, when the Endurance left Plymouth with 28 men, 69 dogs, a cat and supplies for a two-year expedition.
After 5 months at sea, the boat found itself trapped by ice. No more moving. The crew had to wait for the ice to melt and endured a difficult winter.
Unfortunately, the austral summer does not deliver the boat. The men then decided to abandon it and camped on the ice floe for two years. In April 1916, Ernest Shackleton decided to leave with 5 men in search of help. The men sailed almost 13,000km across the ocean in a small makeshift boat to the island of South Georgia, where they were assisted by a resort.
The team will then turn back to rescue the men left behind in Antarctica. A legendary epic, one of the Irishman’s most memorable expeditions.
The wreck was found using high-tech submarines. It will just be filmed and studied. Under no circumstances will it be degraded or reassembled, having been found in a protected area.
Her condition fascinates scientists: the ship is close to her original state. The wood seems to have been frozen by the cold, with little algae and slow decomposition… even the name of the boat is easy to read on the stern!
A true Irish treasure, fascinating enthusiasts and researchers alike. Future studies on the ship promise colorful discoveries!
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