Shipwrecks of Shackleton and Scott recreated in 3D digital form after deep sea expedition

Lead

An expedition led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) has surveyed the wrecks of two historic polar exploration ships, the Quest and the Terra Nova, in the Labrador Sea, creating highly detailed 3D digital twins of the vessels. The 21-day expedition, which departed from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts on 2 July, used the Alvin submersible to explore the wrecks and capture the first-ever detailed digital models of them.

The Quest, the final ship used by Ernest Shackleton, and the Terra Nova, used by Robert Falcon Scott on his ill-fated Antarctic expedition, now rest more than 1,000 feet below the surface of the Labrador Sea, off the coast of Canada. The team's work, funded by the RCGS, aims to set a new standard for future expeditions, according to expedition leader John Geiger.

Coverage Comparison

The Guardian's coverage focuses on the emotional experience of exploring the wrecks, quoting expedition leader John Geiger at length. "To see a very large ship in the abyss, and to realise you are among the first humans to see it, and to realise that it is largely intact is a powerful experience," Geiger said. "It moves you." The Guardian's report describes the find as a 'golden era for shipwreck hunting and investigating' and highlights the technological leaps that made the expedition possible.

The Jerusalem Post offers a more comprehensive survey of the ships' histories, noting that while both vessels sailed in the early 1900s, they sank much later in the century. The outlet emphasizes the significance of the expedition as a "once-in-a-generation" endeavor and includes details on the involvement of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the advanced imaging technology used.

Key Claims

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society led the expedition, with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution also involved. The expedition used the Alvin submersible, the first submersible to take people to the Titanic, to explore the wrecks and create 3D digital twins of the ships.

The Quest sank in 1962 after its hull was pierced by ice while on a seal-hunting expedition off the north coast of Labrador. The Terra Nova sank in 1943 after issuing an urgent SOS due to its pumps not working and taking on water. The wrecks were discovered in 2024 and 2012, respectively.

The expedition used advanced imaging technology, including high-definition 5.2K video cameras and Canadian VOYIS photogrammetric technology, to document the wrecks. John Geiger, head of the RCGS, said the expedition aimed to inspire a new generation of explorers.

Both ships have storied histories. Scott's Terra Nova carried him and his crew to Antarctica on the 1910-1913 expedition; after returning, she was repurchased by her former owners to resume whaling and later carried supplies to stations in Greenland during World War II. Shackleton's Quest was his last ship; he died aboard her in 1922 while preparing to enter Antarctic waters. The expedition was then led by Frank Wild.

Perspectives

John Geiger, expedition leader and head of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, described the experience of exploring the wrecks in deeply personal terms: "To see a very large ship in the abyss, and to realise you are among the first humans to see it, and to realise that it is largely intact is a powerful experience. It moves you."

He also highlighted the significance of technological advances, calling the project a 'golden era for shipwreck hunting and investigating.' The Jerusalem Post's report echoed this sentiment, quoting experts who described the expedition as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to preserve history.