A Great Discovery in Antarctica

A monumental follow-up to “From Alaska to the White Continent,” published February 3, 2022 in Coastal Breeze News.

The 5th of March was a very special day for mariner history buffs all over the world, as polar expedition ship, “The Endurance” was discovered. It is over a 100 years ago it was last seen by Captain and Expedition Leader, Sir Ernest Shackleton, who was attempting to cross Antarctica.

In the Coastal Breeze News edition of February 3rd, I wrote about the British third attempt in this endeavor:   

 “The third journey aboard the Endurance made history as the ship got stuck in the ice, eventually was crushed, and sank. Shackleton and five crew members went for help in one of the 22-foot-long lifeboats on the 800-mile journey to South Georgia battling 50-foot waves and another 22 miles walk across mountains to the whaling station at Stromness. It was the first contact with other humans in two years and the final step to eventually save his crew left behind on Elephant Island. All 28 crew members survived!”

Over several years attempts have been made to locate the Endurance without results. This year the beginning of February was the 100th anniversary of the sinking as the icebreaker, “S.A. Agulhas II,” took off from Cape Town in South Africa to have another try at finding the wreck. The expedition was financed to the tune of 10 million dollars by someone requesting to remain anonymous. After roughly a week and a half of getting to the approximate location in the Weddell Sea and another two weeks of searching a 150-mile square pattern with small submersibles and underwater drones, the discovery must have been an awe-inspiring event for all aboard the exploration ship. The 144 ft three-master was only four miles from where the crew had said the ship was crushed by the ice. Researchers had been sure the equipment of those early days was not accurate, and the ship might have shifted at 10,000 ft below the surface of the ice flow. It shows that New Zealander, Frank Worsley, who navigated the Endurance and later navigated the small 22 ft open lifeboat for five days after spending ten months on the ice, had developed a knowledge of navigation that belied the limited equipment of those days.

Prof. Joe Smith of the Royal Geographical Society said: “After a hundred years, three months and sixteen days, the Society is excited to learn that the remains of the Endurance, crushed by sea ice in 1925, has been found in the Weddell Sea.”

The ship was found upright and in great condition. Due to the low temperature of the waters and the absence of wood eating marine organisms, there was very little damage, and one could still clearly see the name “Endurance” on the hull.

In December of 1959 twelve nations signed the “Antarctic Treaty” agreeing that the continent would only be used for peaceful purposes and that all research stations would be open at all times for inspection by any of the participating nations. It was furthermore agreed that no historic sites, or wildlife would be disturbed in any way, nor that any person would encroach the space of such wildlife and keep distance to a minimum of fifteen feet. Ironically, during my journey in Antarctica I many times hunkered down to photograph penguins at their level. However, they seemed to be as interested in me as I was of them. This resulted on one occasion where a king penguin decided to come pick at the lens of my camera while I was taking my shots. 

Upholding the rules and regulations of the “Antarctic Treaty,” Expedition leader John Shears’ explained that nothing was touched and was only photographed and filmed. As a “historical site” the Endurance will remain untouched where it was found.