Search for Endurance

[Ian_Grant]

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/track-marine-archaeologists-searching-icy-antarctic-seas-ernest-shackletons-endurance-180979581/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20220225-daily-responsive&spMailingID=46458966&spUserID=OTY4MjUzNzkyMTQ3S0&spJobID=2182891929&spReportId=MjE4Mjg5MTkyOQS2

[Joe100]

You probably won’t find a more enthusiastic Shackleton enthusiast than myself. I’ve collected documents written by him, in his own hand, items he personally used on the furthest south Nimrod expedition, first edition books, etc etc. Collecting items belonging to Shackleton is a passion of mine. With that said, I can’t really understand this expedition. I’m certainly all for it, and I hope they succeed in all their aims, but Endurance isn’t an unknown. We have very detailed information about her sinking, photos, film, so it’s not like  we have too many unanswered questions except for her true position position. 
 

I was discussing this subject with a friend once the second attempt got underway. He and I couldn’t come up with a major question we felt we’d like to see answered from finding the wreck. It’s pretty clear that she was smashed to pieces, and other than the debris on the bottom of the ocean, she won’t be some sort of perfectly preserved Time Capsule sadly. Of course they’ll find items from the expedition, and I certainly hope some can be recovered, fascinating no less. I think ticking her off the list is fine, but there might be other ships that ticked off first. And this coming from the most fanatical Shackleton enthusiast you’ll come across ‘round these parts.
 

I do feel there are two wrecks in the Southern Hemisphere which would be much more interesting. The first being the American bark General Grant, which was lost off Auckland Island in 1866. She was carrying a large quantity of personal gold being carried by her passengers and possibly, though disputed, a large shipment of gold bullion. This bullion is often thought to be a legend but it is interesting because on the manifest it was listed as zinc spelter ballast, which I’m told wasn’t common in New Zealand or Australia at the time. What is known is that she did have something like 3000 ounces of private gold aboard. Not only did the disaster suffer considerable loss of life, her survivors became castaways for almost a year, which in itself is one hell of a story. I think she’s worth finding.

 

Secondly, with all the other missing wrecks being found recently, and quickly becoming the Everest of missing ships has to be the missing ocean liner SS Waratah of the Blue Anchor Line. Waratah disappeared on her second voyage in 1909 off the coast of South Africa. Little wreckage was ever found, none of which could be positively identified as having come from Waratah. No bodies were found, it was as if the 500’ ocean liner sailed to Mars. The subsequent search for her was one of the biggest searches at sea ever conducted, covering most of the area between South Africa, Australia, and Antarctica. Absolutely fascinating stuff, maddeningly perplexing, but still fascinating nonetheless. There are a couple theories about why she sank, and maybe we could start a new thread if there is interest. I can bore you to tears with discussions about Waratah! Anyway, Waratah has certainly moved up to the top, or near the top of the list.

 

As I said above, I wish the Endurance search team all the best, and I’ll be the first to congratulate them on their success. I’ll be properly excited if they do find her. However, I do feel that energy could be put into other missing ships, especially Waratah and General Grant. 

[Kevin]

found

[Kevin]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60662541

[Jolley Roger]

Epic! Still in good nick too.

 

[harlequin]

Endurance.....

Edited March 9, 2022 by harlequin

[harlequin]

On 3/3/2022 at 8:01 AM, Joe100 said:

You probably won’t find a more enthusiastic Shackleton enthusiast than myself. I’ve collected documents written by him, in his own hand, items he personally used on the furthest south Nimrod expedition, first edition books, etc etc. Collecting items belonging to Shackleton is a passion of mine. With that said, I can’t really understand this expedition. I’m certainly all for it, and I hope they succeed in all their aims, but Endurance isn’t an unknown. We have very detailed information about her sinking, photos, film, so it’s not like  we have too many unanswered questions except for her true position position. 
 

I was discussing this subject with a friend once the second attempt got underway. He and I couldn’t come up with a major question we felt we’d like to see answered from finding the wreck. It’s pretty clear that she was smashed to pieces, and other than the debris on the bottom of the ocean, she won’t be some sort of perfectly preserved Time Capsule sadly. Of course they’ll find items from the expedition, and I certainly hope some can be recovered, fascinating no less. I think ticking her off the list is fine, but there might be other ships that ticked off first. And this coming from the most fanatical Shackleton enthusiast you’ll come across ‘round these parts.
 

I do feel there are two wrecks in the Southern Hemisphere which would be much more interesting. The first being the American bark General Grant, which was lost off Auckland Island in 1866. She was carrying a large quantity of personal gold being carried by her passengers and possibly, though disputed, a large shipment of gold bullion. This bullion is often thought to be a legend but it is interesting because on the manifest it was listed as zinc spelter ballast, which I’m told wasn’t common in New Zealand or Australia at the time. What is known is that she did have something like 3000 ounces of private gold aboard. Not only did the disaster suffer considerable loss of life, her survivors became castaways for almost a year, which in itself is one hell of a story. I think she’s worth finding.

 

Secondly, with all the other missing wrecks being found recently, and quickly becoming the Everest of missing ships has to be the missing ocean liner SS Waratah of the Blue Anchor Line. Waratah disappeared on her second voyage in 1909 off the coast of South Africa. Little wreckage was ever found, none of which could be positively identified as having come from Waratah. No bodies were found, it was as if the 500’ ocean liner sailed to Mars. The subsequent search for her was one of the biggest searches at sea ever conducted, covering most of the area between South Africa, Australia, and Antarctica. Absolutely fascinating stuff, maddeningly perplexing, but still fascinating nonetheless. There are a couple theories about why she sank, and maybe we could start a new thread if there is interest. I can bore you to tears with discussions about Waratah! Anyway, Waratah has certainly moved up to the top, or near the top of the list.

 

As I said above, I wish the Endurance search team all the best, and I’ll be the first to congratulate them on their success. I’ll be properly excited if they do find her. However, I do feel that energy could be put into other missing ships, especially Waratah and General Grant. 

not smashed to pieces by the looks of things.

 

[MEDDO]

After listening to the Mariners mirror podcast about three weeks ago about the search for this ship I began reading a little bit more about it. Now it’s found! I guess they started a little PR tour a bit early haha

[JayBee750]

Saw this on the news this morning. Amazing condition after over 100 years!

Glad they have decided not to disturb her

[B-Ram]

Wow! The condition of the ship is absolutely amazing.

 

Bill

[Joe100]

Here is a photo of my model of her in happier, more optimistic times. 

 

Sadly, it was Shackleton himself who’s poor decision to push south against the advice of the whalers on South Georgia, which put them in the situation they found themselves in. The choice of S/Y Endurance/Polaris for the mission didn’t help matters since her hull wasn’t designed for pressure. She was originally intended to be a luxury polar yacht used for hunting trips and the like. However, had this story not played out, we wouldn’t have had one of the finest tales ever told, and for that I’m glad. 
 

It’s no surprise she’s preserved as well as she is, and I’m glad she held together on the way down. From the waterline down, she has to be a right mess and I’m glad the structure seems to still resemble a ship. 
 

Congratulations to the discoverers! Huzzah indeed. 
 

Edited March 10, 2022 by Joe100

[Steven Brand]

Amazing how needles in a haystack can be found. Fortunately there was no loss of life and the voyage of the James Caird is worthwhile reading.

[clearway]

amazing shot of the stern and wowwwwwwwwwwww

[flying_dutchman2]

I've read some books on Shackleton and when I read about the discovery of the Endurance I thought "Cool" what a find. 

 

Marcus