ENDURANCE22
The hunt for Shackleton’s lost ice ship
The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust is pleased to confirm that the Endurance22 Expedition has located the wreck of 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.
The hunt for Shackleton’s lost ice ship
The Expedition
In February 2022, a major international scientific expedition will explore one of the coldest, harshest and most remote locations in the world, in a quest to find the Endurance. Using underwater robots, helicopters and other state-of-the-art technology, the Endurance22 expedition aims to be the first to locate and survey Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship which sank in the Weddell Sea in Antarctica in 1915.
The Expedition Vessel
The Endurance22 expedition provides an unprecedented opportunity to explore one of the most remote and least studied places on our planet in a quest to uncover the lost secrets of the Endurance. Carrying a team of over 65 members, the mission will be conducted from the South African polar research and logistics vessel, S.A. Agulhas II.
The Search Area
The approximate location of Endurance was logged by the ship’s captain, Frank Worsley, using a sextant and a theodolite at the spot where she eventually sank in 1915, after becoming trapped and eventually crushed by the thick sea ice of the Weddell Sea. The Endurance22 expedition team will use this information in the hope to get as close as possible to the Endurance wreck site.
Endurance Search Area
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All showed a huge commitment and resilience, worthy of the finest tradition of polar exploration. Saab provided the Sabertooth so I also thank them and their ace team on board, and those who ensured the vehicles performed so well.”– Nico Vincent, Subsea Project Manager
“State of the art subsea technologies have been deployed to achieve this successful outcome. I would particularly like to thank the Ocean Infinity subsea team for all of the engineering support, both on board the ship and throughout the months of planning, design and testing.”
“This has been the most complex subsea project ever undertaken, with several world records achieved to ensure the safe detection of Endurance." – Nico Vincent, Subsea Project Manager
“Endurance22 has reached its goal. We have made polar history with the discovery of Endurance, and successfully completed the world’s most challenging shipwreck search." – Dr John Shears, Expedition Leader
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 across the stern. This is a milestone in polar history." – Mensun Bound
