The Quest wreck: a historic discovery
On June 12, 2024, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) announced a major discovery. The wreck of the Quest, the last ship used to explorer Ernest Shackleton was located in the Labrador Sea, at a depth of 390 metres, off the coast of Newfoundland. The find, part of the Shackleton Quest expedition, marks the 150th anniversary of Shackleton's birth.
An international mission
The expedition, led by RCGS CEO John Geiger, brought together an international team of oceanographers, historians, divers and underwater technology specialists. Famed wreck hunter David Mearns, research director, played a key role in the mission. Antoine Normandin, Mearns' assistant and principal investigator, helped cross-reference historical logbooks and charts with modern data to determine the probable location of the wreck.
The discovery of the wreck, 150 years after Shackleton's birth, took place five days after the start of the expedition in the Northwest Atlantic, thanks to sonar equipment operated by experts from Memorial University's Institute of Fisheries and the Sea, a leader in oceanographic research.
The Quest, an iconic ship
Built in Norway in 1917 as the Foca 1, the Quest was renamed by Lady Emily Shackleton before becoming Ernest Shackleton's last expedition ship. Shackleton died of a heart attack aboard the Quest on January 5, 1922, off South Georgia Island, during his fourth expedition to Antarctica. When he died, Shackleton was 47 years old and in the middle of a voyage to explore several islands and regions of the Antarctic continent. Shackleton was one of the world's most renowned polar explorers, and led several expeditions to Antarctica, including the famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition aboard the Endurance .
After Shackleton's death, the Quest was acquired by a Norwegian company and was involved in a series of important expeditions, including the 1930-31 British Arctic Route air expedition led by British explorer Gino Watkins. He too died tragically at the age of 25 while exploring Greenland.
The ship was then used by various expeditions, including Arctic rescue missions, and served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War, before returning to sealing. In 1962, the Quest was damaged by ice and sank in deep water off the coast of Newfoundland. All Norwegian crew members survived.
Reconstructing Shackleton's physical legacy
David Mearns' confirmation of the discovery is based on high-resolution sonar images, corresponding exactly to the Quest's known dimensions and structural features. This discovery is the last great chapter in Shackleton's legacy. His granddaughter, Alexandra Shackleton, co-sponsor of the expedition, expressed her delight at seeing this dream realized.
A cultural and historical heritage
The Shackleton Quest expedition also involved representatives of the Miawpukek First Nation, underlining the importance of collaboration and respect for native territories. Chief Mi'sel Joe, co-leader of the expedition, shared his local knowledge to help plan the mission.
The impact of discovery
The rediscovery of the Quest by the RCGS, with the support of various institutions and donors, is a major achievement for the exploration community and polar history enthusiasts. Martin Brooks, CEO of the British Shackleton Company, points out that this discovery adds a new chapter to the story of Ernest Shackleton and to the heroic age of polar exploration.
