In an ambitious endeavour, a team from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society is preparing to explore the wrecks of two legendary ships associated with famed explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Using the submersible Alvin—renowned for capturing the first images of the Titanic—the expedition will embark on a journey to the Labrador Sea and the waters off Greenland to document these historic vessels, creating 3-D digital replicas of their final resting places.
A Journey of Discovery
The expedition, slated to commence on Thursday, marks a significant milestone in the study of early Antarctic exploration. John Geiger, CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, will join the mission, becoming one of the few to witness the remains of Shackleton’s ship, Quest, and Scott’s vessel, Terra Nova, firsthand. “It’ll be a real adventure, and the largest, most expensive, most complicated expedition the geographical society has ever undertaken,” Geiger remarked in an interview.
The planning for this venture has been two years in the making, in collaboration with the Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and an international team of experts. The research vessel Atlantis will serve as the launch platform for the expedition, which is expected to last several weeks.
Delving into the Depths
Shackleton’s Quest, which tragically sank off the coast of Labrador in 1962, represents a poignant chapter in polar history. Geiger expressed uncertainty about what the team might uncover in the wreck, which has been stripped of many of its original features, including Shackleton’s cabin. However, he remains hopeful of discovering significant artifacts like the original nameplate, the ship’s wheel, and potentially seal pelts left behind when the ship sank.
“No one has ever looked at Quest with their own eyes,” Geiger noted, anticipating an emotional moment as the team views the wreckage directly. Initially, the expedition aimed solely to map Quest, but the proximity of Terra Nova—Scott’s ill-fated ship—prompted the team to expand their mission.
The Legacy of Scott and Shackleton
Terra Nova, a wooden vessel that carried Scott on his final, tragic race to the South Pole in January 1912, met a similarly fateful end. After reaching the South Pole, only to find that Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had arrived first, Scott and his team perished during their return journey due to harsh conditions. The ship was later involved in sealing operations before being deliberately sunk in 1943 after sustaining damage during World War II.
David Mearns, an experienced shipwreck explorer and co-chief scientist on the mission, aims to create highly detailed, three-dimensional images of both wrecks. “We will come to portions of the ship where we know Shackleton stood. We will come to places on Terra Nova, where we know that Scott stood, Scott slept,” he explained, highlighting the personal connection this expedition aims to foster with the past.
Advanced Technology Meets Historical Exploration
The expedition will employ advanced technology, including high-definition video cameras and photogrammetric techniques from Voyis Imaging, to capture intricate details of both shipwrecks. Mearns emphasised the significance of their work: “It’s an exact true scale replica of the shipwreck that you can manipulate, you can move around, you can rotate it, you can zoom in.”
Moreover, a remote-controlled underwater vehicle will supplement the exploration, ensuring comprehensive footage of the wrecks. Footage captured during previous missions has already revealed fascinating details, such as the wooden wheel and winch of Terra Nova, now encrusted with marine life.
Why it Matters
This expedition is not merely an exploration of shipwrecks; it is a profound homage to the legacies of Shackleton and Scott, whose daring journeys into the unknown have captivated and inspired generations. As we uncover the stories embedded within these vessels, we are reminded of the relentless spirit of exploration that defines human history. The findings from this expedition could reshape our understanding of early 20th-century polar exploration and provide invaluable insights into the challenges faced by those who dared to venture into the icy abyss.
