The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust is happy to validate that the Endurance22 Expedition has actually found the wreck of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship which has actually not been seen given that it was squashed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915.
One a century after Shackleton’s death, Endurance was discovered at a depth of 3,008 meters (9,869 feet) in the Weddell Sea, within the search location specified by the exploration group prior to its departure from Cape Town, and roughly 4 miles south of the position initially tape-recorded by Captain Worsley.
The group worked from the South African polar research study and logistics vessel, S.A. Agulhas II, owned by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and under Master,Capt Knowledge Bengu, utilizing Saab’s Sabertooth hybrid undersea search automobiles. The wreck is safeguarded as a Historic Site and Monument under the Antarctic Treaty, making sure that whilst the wreck is being surveyed and recorded it will not be touched or interrupted in any method.
Taffrail and ship’s wheel, aft well deck. Credit: © Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust/ National Geographic
Donald Lamont, Chairman of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, stated:
“Our goals for Endurance22 were to find, study, and movie the wreck, however likewise to perform crucial clinical research study, and to run a remarkable outreach program. Today’s events are naturally tempered by world occasions, and everyone associated with Endurance22 keeps those impacted by these continuing stunning occasions in their ideas and prayers.
“The spotlight falls today on Mensun Bound, the Director of Exploration, and Nico Vincent, Subsea Project Manager. Under the outstanding leadership of Dr John Shears, they have found Endurance. But this success has been the result of impressive cooperation among many people, both on board the remarkable S.A. Agulhas II with its outstanding Master and crew, a skilled and committed expedition team and many on whose support we have depended in the UK, South Africa, Germany, France, the United States and elsewhere. The Trustees extend to them all our warmest thanks and congratulations on this historic achievement.”
Mensun Bound, Director of Exploration on the exploration, stated:
“We are overwhelmed by our good fortune in having located and captured images of Endurance. This is by far the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen. It is upright, well proud of the seabed, intact, and in a brilliant state of preservation. You can even see “Endurance” arced throughout the stern, straight listed below the taffrail. This is a turning point in polar history. However, it is not everything about the past; we are bringing the story of Shackleton and Endurance to brand-new audiences, and to the next generation, who will be delegated with the necessary protecting of our polar areas and our world. We hope our discovery will engage youths and motivate them with the pioneering spirit, nerve, and perseverance of those who cruised Endurance toAntarctica We commemorate the navigational abilities of Captain Frank Worsley, the Captain of the Endurance, whose comprehensive records were important in our mission to find the wreck. I wish to thank my coworkers of The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust for allowing this remarkable exploration to occur, in addition to Saab for their innovation, and the entire group of devoted professionals who have actually been associated with this huge discovery.”
The stern of the Endurance with the name and emblematic polestar. Credit: © Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust/ National Geographic
Dr John Shears, Expedition Leader, stated:
“The Endurance22 expedition has reached its goal. We have made polar history with the discovery of Endurance, and successfully completed the world’s most challenging shipwreck search. In addition, we have undertaken important scientific research in a part of the world that directly affects the global climate and environment. We have also conducted an unprecedented educational outreach program, with live broadcasting from onboard, allowing new generations from around the world to engage with Endurance22 and become inspired by the amazing stories of polar exploration, and what human beings can achieve and the obstacles they can overcome when they work together. We will shortly begin our return leg to Cape Town, after an expedition which it has been my great privilege and honor to lead. The Expedition team, and the officers and crew of the S.A. Agulhas II, have been simply outstanding. I would also like to say thank you to The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, and all of our partners, especially in South Africa, who have played a vital role in the success of the expedition.”
Starboard bow. Credit: © Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust/ National Geographic
Nico Vincent, Subsea Project Manager, stated:
“This has been the most complex subsea project ever undertaken, with several world records achieved to ensure the safe detection of Endurance. State of the art subsea technologies have been deployed to achieve this successful outcome and I would particularly like to thank the subsea team for all of the engineering support, both on board the ship and throughout the months of planning, design, and testing. All of them showed a huge commitment and resilience, worthy of the finest tradition of polar exploration. Saab provided the Sabertooth so I also want to thank them, including their ace team onboard SA Agulhas II, and those who ensured the vehicles performed as well as they did.”
Endurance 22 Expedition worked out of the South African polar research study and logistics vessel, S.A. Agulhas II. Credit: Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust
The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
It was Sir Ernest Shackleton’s aspiration to accomplish the very first land crossing of Antarctica from the Weddell Sea by means of the South Pole to the RossSea The Ross Sea Party which was landed at Hut Point on Ross Island had the job of laying supply disposes for Shackleton’s crossing celebration, and attained its goal, however at the expense of 3 lives lost. In the Weddell Sea, Endurance never ever reached land and ended up being caught in the thick pack ice and the 28 guys on board ultimately had no option however to desert ship. After months invested in makeshift camps on the ice floes wandering northwards, the celebration required to the lifeboats to reach the unwelcoming, unoccupied, ElephantIsland Shackleton and 5 others then made an amazing 800- mile (1,300 km) open-boat journey in the lifeboat, James Caird, to reach SouthGeorgia Shackleton and 2 others then crossed the mountainous island to the whaling station atStromness From there, Shackleton was ultimately able to install a rescue of the guys waiting on Elephant Island and bring them house without death.
One of Frank Hurley’s pictures of the stricken Endurance caught in pack ice. Credit: Frank Hurley/Wikimedia Commons
Scientific Research
Under the management ofDr Lasse Rabenstein, Endurance22’s Chief Scientist, a world leading group of researchers from research study and universities effectively carried out numerous hours of environment modification associated research studies over the period of the exploration. Representatives from the South African Weather Service, German company Drift & & Noise, Germany’s Alfred-Wegener-Institute, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Aalto University in Finland and South Africa’s Stellenbosch University investigated the ice wanders, weather of the Weddell Sea, research studies of sea ice density, and had the ability to map the sea ice from area. Combined, these crucial research studies will materially assist our understanding of this remote area and how it affects our altering environment.
Endurance22 education program
Since the exploration was developed, academic outreach was an essential goal. The FMHT partnered with Reach the World, the US-based education company, and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) who have actually effectively gotten in touch with 10s of countless kids throughout the exploration by means of routine live stream interviews and product produced for class usage.
Expedition protection and unique documentary
History Hit, the material platform co-founded by historian Dan Snow, acclaimed digital material firm and media network Little Dot Studios, and effect driven production business, Consequential, have actually produced a variety of material covering the establishing of the exploration, the trip and search, and now the discovery itself, in addition to the history, science, and other styles that link to the broader objective. Short- kind material continues to be dispersed to countless customers, consisting of with material breaking on TikTok. The group has actually likewise been shooting for a long-form observational documentary narrating the exploration which has actually been commissioned by National Geographic to air later on this year.
Set to premiere this Fall 2022 as part of National Geographic’s EXPLORER series, this documentary occasion will air worldwide on National Geographic in 172 nations and 43 languages prior to it heads to Disney+. Exclusive storytelling about the Endurance will be included throughout National Geographic’s digital and social platforms, consisting of in the National Geographic publication and the acclaimed podcast, Overheard at NationalGeographic An thorough story about the finding of Endurance, including its historic significance, is readily available on natgeo.com now.
