After 62 years of searching, the ship that led Sir Ernest Shackleton on his final voyage has been found.
Using sonar equipment, a team led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society discovered the schooner-rigged steamship Quest, 1,279 feet beneath the Labrador Sea. For decades, the location of the wreck had been unknown. It was last seen in the spring of 1962 when the ship struck an iceberg.
“Finding Quest is one of the final chapters in the extraordinary story of Sir Ernest Shackleton,” said John Geiger, expedition leader.
Maps and ship documents from the time of the wreck, which were cross-referenced using modern instruments, led the RCGS off the coast of Newfoundland where, balanced upon its keel, the Quest lay beside the ruins of its downed mast.
Shackleton’s Final Voyage
Built by Norwegian shipbuilders in 1917, the Quest was originally commissioned for seal hunting under the name Foca I. Purchased by Shackleton in 1921 and renamed by his wife, it became the vessel for the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition that would sail toward the Antarctic.
Anchored off the coast of South Georgia, Shackleton suffered a heart attack on Jan. 5, 1922. Planning to head north toward Canada after exploring the Antarctic Islands, Shackleton’s life was cut short at 47 years old. He was never able to complete his fourth expedition or embark into the frostbitten waves of the Arctic Ocean.
Sinking in 1962
But the Quest continued its journey.
Returning to Norwegian hands, the steamship ran first as a minesweeper against the Germans in World War I before finally returning to seal hunting and commercial cargo. On May 5, 1962, while cutting through the waters of the Labrador Sea, a shard of ice punctured the hull of the Quest, forcing it beneath the waves where it remained lost for decades.
The crew survived.
Shackleton’s Legacy
Shackleton’s death aboard the Quest marked the end of the “Heroic Age” of exploration, rolling over into the “Mechanical Age.” This new period, marked by significant advancements in technology and transportation after World War I, replaced the highly dangerous expeditions built on limited resources that defined Shackleton’s era.
In 1915, Shackleton led a 27-man crew aboard the sailing vessel Endurance into the choppy waters of the Antarctic, ramming against ice and sinking. Paddling to nearby Elephant Island, Shackleton and four crew members boarded the James Caird, a 22-foot lifeboat, pushing out toward the Shetland Islands in the hope of rescue. The 800-mile journey battled against the “furious fifties,” a nickname for some of the strongest, westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere. Leading to the rescue of all 27 crew members, the mission of the James Caird is considered by many to be the greatest small-boat journey in world history.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The RCGS hopes to honor Shackleton’s memory and better understand the history of Quest, including its final days. Among the patrons of this newest discovery is Shackleton’s granddaughter, Alexandra Shackleton. For years, finding Quest has been her “dream.” She has devoted significant support to the expedition.
“I have long hoped for this day,” she said, “and am grateful to those who made this incredible discovery.”
