Discovery of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Last Ship: Quest Found off the Coast of Labrador

The legendary Irish-born British explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, has made headlines once again as the wreck of his last ship, the Quest, has been discovered off the coast of Labrador in Canada, 62 years after it went missing. The find was made by an international team led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, marking a significant moment in maritime history.

The Quest was located using sonar scans, revealing it sitting on its keel under 390 meters of icy water, with its mast lying broken beside it. The vessel met its tragic end after striking ice on May 5, 1962, ultimately sinking into the depths of the Labrador Sea.

John Geiger, the leader of the Shackleton Quest Expedition and CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, emphasized the importance of the discovery, highlighting the vessel’s historical significance in Shackleton’s exploration endeavors. Shackleton’s death aboard the Quest in 1922 marked the end of the “heroic age” of Antarctic exploration, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of adventure and discovery.

While the Quest will not be raised to the surface due to cost constraints, it will be extensively documented and studied by a research team planning to capture footage of the vessel using remotely operated vehicles. The discovery of the Quest comes two years after the finding of Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, at the bottom of the Weddell Sea near the Antarctica Peninsula.

Shackleton’s enduring legacy as a fearless explorer and leader continues to captivate the imaginations of people around the world, showcasing the bravery and determination of those who strive to push the boundaries of human discovery.