Scientists have discovered and filmed one of the greatest undiscovered shipwrecks, the Endurance, 107 years after it sank. The vessel, belonging to Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, was found at the bottom of the Weddell Sea at a depth of 3,008 metres.
The ship was crushed by sea ice and sank in 1915, forcing Shackleton and his crew to make a remarkable escape on foot and in small boats. Remarkably, the wreck is in excellent condition, with its timbers still intact and the name 'Endurance' clearly visible on the stern.
Marine archaeologist Mensun Bound described it as 'the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen – by far'. The discovery was made by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust using a South African icebreaker and remotely operated submersibles, after a two-week search.
The wreck is a designated monument under the Antarctic Treaty and must not be disturbed. No artefacts have been recovered, but a detailed photographic record has been made. The ship appears much as it did when last photographed in 1915, with masts down and rigging tangled, but the hull largely intact.
Deep-sea polar biologist Dr Michelle Taylor noted that the wreck is colonised by diverse marine life, including sea squirts, anemones, and sponges, but no wood-eating organisms due to the Antarctic environment. The discovery marks the 100th anniversary of Shackleton's funeral and fulfils a long-held ambition for the expedition team.
