Sensational find in the eternal ice: wreck of the expedition ship Endurance discovered

Created: 03/11/2022 05:34

By: Anna Lorenz

After more than 100 years, researchers discover the wreck of the Endurance in the polar sea of ​​Antarctica.

The expedition ship was considered lost - a journey through time now awaits in the depths of the sea.

Antarctica - It sounds outrageous and exciting at the same time.

A lost ship from ancient times survives more than a century at the bottom of the polar sea.

Now scientists are finding it after a long search in the depths of the eternal ice.

Goosebumps a la Pirates of the Caribbean run over the body when a research team unveils the first images of the expedition ship Endurance.

But what about the giants of bygone times?

Endurance: A risky venture with a fateful end

Launched on December 17, 1912 under the name "Polaris" for more tourist purposes, the three-master was sold to the polar explorer Ernest Shackelton for the equivalent of around 1,144,000 euros (as of 2022) due to financial problems of the owner.

True to his family motto "Fortitudine vincimus" (Eng. "Through perseverance we win") he renamed the ship to the name Endurance*.

The ship's name is emblazoned on the stern of the Endurance.

© IMAGO/Falklands Maritime Heritage Trus

On August 8, 1914, Shackelton broke with his crew in the course of the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

(Eng. Trans-Antarctic Expedition of the British Empire) to Antarctica* to be the first to cross the icy continent in a ship.

But it shouldn't come to that.

Although the 350-ton colossus was ideally suited to drifting calmly through the pack ice despite a length of almost 44 meters, this type of construction was also the Achilles' heel that was the undoing of Shackelton and his crew.

The endurance at that time.

© Courtesy Everett Collection/IMAGO

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The Expedition of Endurance: The research team's nautical feat

Because the straight bow of the solid ship caused the expedition team to come to a standstill in January 1915, in the middle of the Wedell Sea, between the pack ice.

While a rounded bow could have pushed upwards on the floes, the Endurance was literally captured by the eternal ice and thus sealed its fate.

The ship and crew held out for 281 days - but on November 15, 1915, the forces of nature won and pushed the Endurance to the bottom of the sea.

"She's gone boys."

Traditional quote from Shackelton upon seeing the crushed Endurance

On a slowly breaking ice floe and with dinghies rescued from the lost ship, the crew managed to make their way to uninhabited Elephant Island at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

With a cobbled together ship, six men were actually able to get help and bring the 28-strong crew home almost unharmed.

Expedition ship Endurance: The myth is back

Understandably, the fate of the Endurance, which has since been thought lost, continues to fascinate scientists around the world.

After an expedition in 2019 to search for the ship was unsuccessful, the team led by researchers John Shears succeeded in

Mensun Bound, Nico Vincent and JC Caillens now use a diving robot to locate the wreck 7.7 kilometers from the suspected location.

"This is by far the best wooden shipwreck I've ever seen," Bound said.

“With the discovery of Endurance, we made polar history,” agreed Shears, expedition leader Endurance 22.

"Endurance 22": This is what is happening now with the wreck

No wonder that after this sensational find, the question now arises as to what will happen to the wreck of the excellently preserved Endurance.

After all, a ship discovery like this is second to none.

Despite being under water for decades, the ship is exceptionally well preserved.

© IMAGO/Weddell Sea

However, the answer is as clear as it is simple: Look yes, touch no!

In the Antarctic Treaty, the ship is protected from any interference as a historic site.

The "Endurance 22" team is therefore busy filming and taking photos using drones.

Because although the ship has found its final resting place in the icy depths, it is important to preserve its story for posterity, along with its message: The Endurance - it more than lived up to its name.

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