Discovery Of 107-Year-Old Ship Tied To Most Epic Survival Story All Time

• Recently, a 107-year-old ship named the Endurance was discovered off the coast of Antarctica
• The ship belonged to Ernest Shackleton and his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition crew
• Many are now pointing out how the ship represents one of the greatest survival stories in history

This morning, news broke out that a 107-year-old sunken ship named the Endurance was discovered 3,000m deep on a sea bed near Antarctica.

A group of marine archaeologists, technicians, and adventurers found the wreck four miles from where the ship originally sank. The research expedition, called Endurance22, had to battle thick sea ice as they searched for the wreckage for two weeks using underwater drones.

The team leader, John Shears, had this to say,

We have made polar history with the discovery of Endurance, and successfully completed the world’s most challenging shipwreck search.

Sinking of the Endurance Ship

While the discovery of a 100-year-old sunken ship is a once-in-a-lifetime find for archaeologists, the fact it was the Endurance is truly insane.

The story of the shipwreck begins with a man by the name of Ernest Shackleton. In early 1914 he drew up plans to be the first to traverse Antarctica. The expedition was called the “Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.” World War I soon broke out as plans were being drawn up, but Shackleton and his crew were allowed to go forth thanks to the approval of Great Britain’s First Lord of the Admiralty at the time, Winston Churchill.

Fast forward to January of 1915, where Shackleton and his crew were navigating the Weddell Sea off Antarctica. The ice started getting worse and worse, and the Endurance become frozen in a floe.

At the end of February 1915, Shackleton converted the ship into a winter station. The play was to stick it out for the long term until the weather would allow the ice to break up more and free the ship.

This opportunity wouldn’t come until September—which is known as Antarctica’s spring season. However, the ice started moving and shaking in a way that was putting pressure on the Endurance. Shackleton hoped the ice would free the ship but instead it started crushing it.

On October 24th, water was reported to be pouring into the hull. Shackleton ordered his crew to abandon Endurance. All of the crew members and supplies were taken onto thick camps of ice.

On November 21st, Endurance slipped into the water.

One of the Most Epic Survival Stories of All Time

After the Endurance sank Shackleton and his crew camped on large ice floes for months. In April of 1916, the ice floe they were on started splitting. Everyone got in lifeboats and paddled for five days at sea before landing on a piece of land called Elephant Island.

The men quickly found out they needed to get off Elephant Island if they hoped to be discovered. At the end of April, Shackleton and 5 other men climbed in a lifeboat and set off for South Georgia Island. They traveled 800 miles in 15 days before landing at South Georgia Island.

Shakelton then traversed the island with two other crew members for 32 miles before reaching a whaling station on May 20th, 1916. Shackleton then sent a boat to rescue the crew, and the rest is history.

What’s amazing is all of the crew members from Shackleton’s expedition survived. Shackleton’s photographer, Frank Hurley, was able to document the entire journey too.

What Happens Next to the Sunken Endurance Ship

Expedition22 member Jon Snow mentioned in a recent interview the Endurance would remain put where they found it. The research team also didn’t touch the ship.

Instead, they took high-quality videos and photos and created a 3D scan layout of the entire wreckage. Snow mentioned they found the ship to be in incredible condition, with it looking very close to what it likely did when Shackleton saw it plunge into the icy waters over 100 years ago.

For now, the Endurance will be protected at its resting place. Snow mentioned that decades from now—when we might have the technology—the Endurance could be raised and preserved.

Then, people from all over the world could come and see the ship that represents one of humankind’s greatest survival stories.

Who said history isn’t cool?