A Canadian crew has become the first to lay eyes on the wreck of Ernest Shackleton's last ship, the Quest, off the south coast of Labrador. The discovery was announced by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), whose chief executive, John Geiger, participated in the dive.
Discovery off Labrador Coast
The Quest, a schooner-rigged steamship, sank in 1962 after striking ice in the Labrador Sea. It was the vessel that carried Shackleton on his final Antarctic expedition in 1921-1922, during which the legendary explorer died of a heart attack off South Georgia. The wreck was located by a Canadian team using sonar and remotely operated vehicles, and a subsequent dive confirmed its identity. Geiger described the moment as “a profound connection to history.”
Significance of the Wreck
The Quest is the last of Shackleton's ships to be found, following the discovery of Endurance in 2022. The wreck lies in about 390 meters of water, largely intact. The RCGS plans to work with authorities to protect the site as a heritage landmark. “This is a piece of polar history that belongs to the world,” Geiger said.
