By Tim Binnall
A longstanding maritime mystery has been solved at last as researchers have located explorer Ernest Shackleton's downed ship the Endurance over a century after the vessel vanished in the frigid waters off the coast of Antarctica. The iconic case centers around a 1915 expedition to the South Pole wherein Shackleton aimed to make the first land crossing of the famed frozen continent. The mission quickly ran into trouble when the Endurance became lodged in pack ice while heading toward Antarctica by way of the Weddell Sea. For a staggering 11 months, Shackleton and his crew of 27 men were stuck in this perilous position until the ship was finally crushed by the ice and sank.
Fortunately, the explorer and his team were able to escape a tragic fate by departing the ship for the ice around it, although their ultimate survival came about following another months-long ordeal wherein they awaited rescue. Despite the expedition failing to accomplish its mission, the story of Shackleton's ill-fated journey understandably became a legendary tale of endurance and something of a triumph of the human spirit. Over the ensuing decades since, multiple attempts were made to locate the wreckage of the Endurance, however these pursuits proved to be futile until now. In a deservedly celebratory announcement on Wednesday, a team of researchers known as 'Endurance22' revealed that they have finally located the sunken vessel.
"We have made polar history with the discovery of Endurance," declared expedition leader Dr John Shears, "and successfully completed the world’s most challenging shipwreck search." According to the group, the downed vessel is located on the floor Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica at a depth of nearly 10,000 feet. The team was able to confirm the location by way of advanced "hybrid underwater search vehicles" which captured some truly amazing photos and video of the long-lost ship. Beyond merely finding the Endurance, the group were astounded by its remarkable condition despite having sinking over a century ago.
To that end, Endurance22's Director of Exploration, Mensun Bound, marveled that "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." Incredibly, the ship is in such good shape that the name 'Endurance' can still be seen clearly emblazoned on the stern of the vessel. Although the group collected an array of photos and videos of the shipwreck, they stressed that "it will not be touched or disturbed in any way" as the Antarctic Treaty decreed the location to be a historic site. Those hoping to see more of the legendary lost ship are in luck as the story of Endurance22's search and discovery of the vessel will be detailed in a documentary later this year.