An underwater exploration expedition conducted nearly 400 meters below the Labrador Sea’s surface has unveiled the initial visuals of Quest, the vessel that transported renowned Antarctic adventurer Sir Ernest Shackleton on his ultimate journey. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) utilized a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to capture images of the sunken ship, which went down off the Labrador coast in 1962.
Exclusive access to the expedition’s first images, showing the rear portion of the exploration vessel entangled in fishing gear, was granted to CBC News aboard the research vessel Atlantis. David Mearns, the expedition’s co-chief scientist and an experienced shipwreck locator with 29 discoveries under his belt, expressed concerns that the nets have caused more harm to the wreck than if it had remained undisturbed on the ocean floor. The shipwreck’s location was initially identified by the RCGS two years ago using side-scan sonar technology.
The expedition, marking the society’s largest endeavor to date with costs reaching millions of dollars, involved a collaboration with the Massachusetts-based non-profit Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The team explored two shipwrecks in the Labrador Sea, including Quest and Terra Nova.
John Geiger, the RCGS CEO and expedition leader, descended in the submersible Alvin for the first dive on the Quest wreck. Reflecting on the experience, he described the emotional moment of witnessing the ship’s bow emerging from the darkness and contemplating Shackleton’s historic voyages.
Originally acquired by Shackleton for Northern Canada exploration, Quest was redirected to Antarctica after the Canadian government declined to support the expedition. The vessel served various purposes, including as a minesweeper during World War II and for seal hunting by a Norwegian company. It met its demise in 1962 off Labrador’s south coast due to ice crushing the hull, resulting in the loss of its cargo of thousands of seal pelts.
While the wreck’s name and registration number are not visible, research director Antoine Normandin confirmed its identity as Quest based on distinct features observed, such as specific portholes below the bridge matching historical photographs. Despite disappointment over the damage caused by trawl fishing, researchers expressed satisfaction that significant sections of historical importance remain intact.
Moving forward, the expedition plans to create a digital replica of the wreck using advanced 3D imaging technology. The wreck, located in the Hawke Channel closed to fishing since 2002, poses challenges for obtaining clear imagery due to fishing nets obstructing the starboard side. Researchers aim to uncover insights about the surviving elements, changes over time, and the information the wreck and its surrounding 300-meter debris field can provide.
Following the exploration of Quest, the expedition will shift its focus to another wreck, Terra Nova, located at the southern tip of Greenland. This vessel, initially owned by the Bowring Company of St. John’s, was famously used by Robert Falcon Scott during his ill-fated 1912 South Pole expedition.
