Renowned Explorer’s Last Ship Found Wrecked Off the Coast of Canada
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) has located the wreck of the ship used for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final Antarctic expedition off the coast of Labrador. The vessel, named the Quest, sank in May 1962, the same ship on which Sir Ernest Shackleton passed away in 1922.
Shackleton’s Antarctic Expeditions
Sir Ernest Shackleton stands among the pioneers of early Antarctic exploration, alongside figures such as “Captain Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen, and Admiral Richard Byrd.” He began his career as the third officer on Scott’s Discovery Expedition (1901-1904) but returned home due to health reasons. Shackleton later led the Nimrod Expedition (1907-1909), which brought him within 97 geographical miles (180 km) of the South Pole, marking a significant achievement though falling short of the Pole itself. “He received a knighthood for his efforts.”
“Following Amundsen’s successful South Pole expedition in 1911, Shackleton organized the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) with the ambitious goal of crossing Antarctica via the Pole.” The expedition encountered a dramatic setback when their ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice and eventually sank in 1915. Shackleton and his crew were forced to abandon ship and journeyed in lifeboats to reach Elephant Island after the ice pack broke up.
Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Journeys and Exploits
From there, Sir Ernest Shackleton and five companions embarked on an extraordinary journey in one of the open boats, covering a distance of 720 nautical miles (830 miles or 1,330 km) to reach South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic. They then crossed the island’s mountainous spine without proper equipment to reach the whaling station. Subsequently, Shackleton led a successful rescue expedition on August 30, 1916, to retrieve the rest of the crew without any casualties.
In 1921, Shackleton initiated his final expedition, “the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition.” He acquired a Norwegian-built wooden-hulled sealer, originally named Foca, which Lady Shackleton renamed the Quest. Initially planned to explore the area around Baffin Bay in Canada, Shackleton faced challenges obtaining permission from the Canadian government. Consequently, he redirected the expedition back to Antarctica with the goal of mapping the coastline and adjacent islands.
Unfortunately, Shackleton never returned to Antarctica. “He passed away from a heart attack at the age of 47 while stopping at South Georgia Island.” At his widow’s request, Shackleton’s final resting place was at Grytviken on South Georgia Island, marking the only death among the expeditions he led.
Following refurbishments, the Quest continued polar exploration in the 1920s, including the daring rescue mission of survivors from the Italia Arctic airship crash. It returned to sealing in 1930 and served as a cargo ship and minesweeper for the Royal Navy during World War II.
Discovery of the Quest Shipwreck in Canadian Water
The Quest’s final voyage occurred during a seal-hunting expedition in 1962 when ice punctured the hull, causing the ship to sink beneath the frigid waters. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued.
The sonar image revealed the Quest shipwreck upright on the ocean floor at 1,280 feet (390 meters). Its intact state matched the dimensions of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Canadian Arctic expedition. The discovery deeply moved Alexandra Shackleton, his granddaughter and co-patron of the Shackleton Quest Expedition. “She emotionally tied her family’s legacy to the ship’s history in Canadian waters, expressing gratitude to those who located it, marking a significant moment in maritime history.”
The Quest’s discovery in Canadian waters is deeply significant to Alexandra Shackleton, underscoring its historical importance and personal ties to her family’s legacy. The find fulfills a long-held hope and honors Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legacy of exploration and discovery.
Read the Original Article on: New Atlas
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