RCGS released the first photographs of the Quest shipwreck, the vessel used by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his final expedition, more than 60 years after it sank in 1962.
RCGS released the first photographs of the Quest shipwreck, the vessel used by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his final expedition, more than 60 years after it sank in 1962. Shackleton had commanded the Endurance during its 1914–1917 Antarctic expedition, which became trapped in ice and was abandoned after the crew survived a prolonged ordeal. The Quest, a Norwegian whaler purchased in 1921 and renamed by Shackleton’s wife Emily, was intended for an Arctic survey of the Beaufort Sea but shifted to Antarctic operations after funding changes. The vessel underwent extensive modifications, including a new deckhouse, heated crow’s nest, wireless set, odograph, deep‑sea sounding equipment, extensive photographic gear and a small aircraft. The Quest set sail from Buenos Aires in 1921. Shackleton became ill in late December 1921 as the ship prepared to leave Rio de Janeiro and reportedly used alcohol to ease his condition. The Quest arrived at South Georgia on 4 January 1922, where Shackleton made his final diary entry before retiring to bed. He died later that month, and the expedition did not achieve its planned objectives. The ship remained undiscovered until 1962, when sonar surveys located it at a depth of about 300 metres off South Georgia. RCGS published the images in Canadian Geographic magazine, providing the first visual record of the wreck. The photographs were captured using modern underwater imaging technology. The Endurance wreck was located in 2022, marking the first major find of a Shackleton vessel. The Quest’s remains have been verified through sonar and photographic surveys that match historical descriptions.
- Publisher
- arstechnica
- Reliability
- high
- Published
- 7/11/2026, 10:00:36 AM
- Retrieved
- 7/11/2026, 10:00:36 AM
- Relevance
- 80%
- Confidence
- 85%

