THE WRECK OF Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance has been found 107 years after it was trapped in sea ice and sank off the Antarctic coast.
The 44-meter-long wooden vessel had not been seen since it sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915, and in February the Endurance22 expedition set out from Cape Town, South Africa, a month after the 100th anniversary of Sir Ernest’s death on mission. to locate it.
The ship was found at a depth of 3,008 meters and about four miles south of the position originally recorded by the ship’s captain, Frank Worsley.
Sir Ernest and his crew set out to make the first land crossing of Antarctica, but Endurance failed to reach dry land and became trapped in dense pack ice, forcing all 28 men on board to eventually abandon ship .
They were stuck in the ice for about 10 months, before escaping in lifeboats and on foot.
Ernest Shackleton lived in Milnthorpe Road in Eastbourne with his wife, Emily, between 1916 and 1922. She remained in Eastbourne long after his death when he took part in another expedition to Antarctica in 1921.
The expedition’s exploration director said footage from Endurance showed it to be intact and “by far the most beautiful wooden shipwreck” he had seen.
South African polar research and logistics vessel, SA Agulhas II, on an expedition to find the wreck of Endurance
Mensun Bound said: “We are overwhelmed by our luck in locating and capturing Endurance footage.
“It is straight, very proud of the seabed, intact and in a brilliant state of preservation. You can even see “Endurance” in an arc on the stern, directly under the taffrail.
“This is a milestone in polar history.”
Dr John Shears, the expedition leader, said his team, which was accompanied by historian Dan Snow, wrote “polar history” by carrying out what he called “the search for wrecks the most difficult in the world”.
Photo released by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust of the taffrail, ship’s wheel and aft well deck on the wreck of Endurance
He said: “In addition, we have undertaken important scientific research in a part of the world which directly affects the global climate and environment.
“We also conducted an unprecedented educational outreach programme, with live streaming on board, allowing new generations around the world to engage with Endurance22 and be inspired by the incredible stories of polar exploration, what human beings can accomplish and the obstacles they can overcome when they work together.
Dan Snow said on Twitter: “The stamina was found. Discovered at 3,000 meters on March 5, 2022, 100 years to the day since Shackleton was buried.
The stern of the wreck of the Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship which has not been seen since it was crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915
“After weeks of searching, Endurance was found in Mensun Bound’s designed search area, just over four miles south of where her captain Frank Worsley calculated she had sunk. team on board #Endurance22 is happy and a little exhausted!
“Nothing was touched on the wreckage. Nothing recovered. It was raised with the latest tools and its position was confirmed. It is protected by the Antarctic Treaty. touch it.
He said the wreckage was “coherent” and in an “amazing state of preservation”.
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-03-09 14:19:34
