A recent 21-day deep-sea expedition, which departed from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts on 2 July, has successfully captured high-resolution 3D digital models of two historic polar exploration vessels. The project, led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), aims to create "digital twins" of the shipwrecks, providing a lasting record as the ocean gradually reclaims these wooden hulls.
Expedition leader John Geiger described the work as a "golden era for shipwreck investigating," noting that modern technological advancements allow researchers to map and model these sites with unprecedented detail. Using specialized underwater imaging technology developed by the Canadian firm Voyis, the team scanned the remains of the Quest, used by Ernest Shackleton, and the Terra Nova, famously used by Robert Falcon Scott. These models are constructed by knitting together thousands of high-resolution images on-site, a process Geiger described as "mind-boggling" to witness in real-time.
The Quest, which served as the final ship for Shackleton, was found in its silty grave more than 1,000 feet (305 metres) below the surface of the Labrador Sea. Shackleton, a central figure of the "heroic age" of Antarctic exploration, led a 1914 exploration trip to the Antarctic region on the Endurance that ended after his ship was trapped in the ice and eventually crushed. He later died of a heart attack at 47 on the Quest in 1922; the vessel itself later sank in 1962 and remained undiscovered until 2024. The Terra Nova, the three-masted ship that carried Scott and his party during their 1910 bid to reach the South Pole, sits at a similar depth. Scott reached the pole on 17 January 1912, only to discover Roald Amundsen had arrived first, and he and his party subsequently perished on the return journey. The Terra Nova later operated in the Newfoundland seal fishery before sinking in 1943.
The expedition utilized the submersible Alvin, which was notably the first to visit the Titanic wreck four decades ago. Recent upgrades allow the Alvin to reach depths of 21,300 feet, having been approved five years ago to extend its range from 14,700 feet. Pilot Benen ElShakhs noted the profound experience of viewing a wood ship from over 100 years ago that now sits more than 500 feet below the surface, stating that the proximity offered by the submersible makes the history feel tangible. Beyond the historical significance, marine biologists have expressed enthusiasm for studying the wildlife surrounding the wrecks, though the team also observed the impact of human activity, specifically heavy, weighted nets from deep-sea fishing trawlers partially covering the sites.
While the mission utilized cutting-edge robotics and imaging, Geiger emphasized the continued necessity of human involvement in exploration. He argued that while future missions will rely more heavily on automated vehicles, the human element preserves the "poetry, romance and wonder" of discovery. By documenting these sites, the team hopes to inspire future generations and address the significant gaps in our current mapping of the world's oceans.
Moments after devouring the final glimmers of light, the seafloor offered nothing but darkness and silt. Then the bow appeared.
“There’s so little of the ocean that’s mapped,” he said. “The territorial waters of Canada are largely unmapped in the Arctic. There’s so little we know and I’m staggered at the ignorance we have about the oceans and about ocean life.”
