South Africans head to Antarctica with hopes of recovering the long lost

5 February  2022, the search for Ernest Shackleton’s wrecked ship, Endurance, officially begun.

In 1915, the Endurance had sunk off the coast of Antarctica. This happened after it was slowly crushed by pack ice.  

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Shackleton’s team was trying to make the first land crossing of Antarctica. It was a part of the renowned polar explorer’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition from 1914 to 1917.   

Unfortunately Endurance fell victim to the Weddell Sea and their landing was disturbed. The ship had become captured in sea ice for over 10 months before being crushed. It had sunk an entire 3,000 metres below the surface.   

Luckily the crew had managed to escape by camping on the sea ice until it ruptured. They later launched lifeboats to Elephant Island and South Georgia, a British overseas territory.  

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And now, we are proud to say that the  South African icebreaker 'SA Agulhas II' has been set off from Cape Town with 40+ crew members.

The icebreaker will navigate its way through heavy ice and harsh temperatures during the expedition.

Loaded with the latest technology, thanks to the department of environment, forestry, and fisheries, it hopes to find the shipwreck.   

For their 35 days of adventure and work, we wish them all the best with Endurance22! 

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