Researchers funded by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society are launching an expedition this month to survey two historic polar shipwrecks [1].
The mission represents the first modern scientific survey of these vessels, which are critical to preserving the heritage of early Antarctic exploration. By applying new technology to these sites, researchers hope to document the remains before further decay occurs.
The team will target the wreck of the Quest in Antarctic waters and the remains of the Terra Nova in the Southern Ocean [1]. The Quest was used during Ernest Shackleton’s final Antarctic expedition in the 1920s [2] and sank approximately 40 years later [2].
The Terra Nova served Robert Falcon Scott from 1910 to 1913 [3]. Unlike the Quest, the Terra Nova sank during the Second World War [4]. Both vessels are considered legendary in the history of polar exploration, yet neither has been examined using current underwater survey techniques.
The expedition is scheduled to launch on Thursday [5]. The team will use advanced technology to map the sites and assess their condition. This effort aims to bridge the gap between historical accounts and the physical reality of the wrecks' current state.
Funding for the project comes from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society [1]. The organization is supporting the use of modern scientific techniques to ensure the preservation of these sites for future study. The mission focuses on the intersection of maritime archaeology and polar history, a rare opportunity to visualize the end of two iconic vessels.
“The mission represents the first modern scientific survey of these vessels.”
This expedition marks a transition from historical narrative to empirical data for two of the most famous ships in polar history. By using modern surveying tools on vessels that sank decades ago, researchers can determine how the extreme environment of the Southern Ocean affects long-term wreckage preservation, providing a baseline for other deep-sea archaeological efforts in the region.
