HMS Endurance and Shackleton

Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance

During the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, which began at the end of the 19th century and ended after the First World War, the Antarctic region became the focus of intensive scientific and geographical exploration, with 17 major expeditions launched from ten countries.

In August 1914, the Endurance, carrying Ernest Shackleton and 27 crew set out from Buenos Aires on what would be her final journey; with the goal of crossing the Antarctic from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea. After encountering polar pack ice, which slowed progress to a crawl, in January 1915 the ship became icebound and after a nine months battle with the ice she was eventually crushed. On 27 October at about 5:00 pm, amid temperatures from −8.5 °F (−22.5 °C) in the morning to −16 °F (−27 °C) in the evening, Shackleton gave the order to abandon ship. The ship's blue ensign was hoisted so that she would, in Shackleton's word's, "go down with colours flying".

All of the crew survived her sinking and were eventually rescued in 1916, after using the ship's boats to travel to Elephant Island, after which Shackleton and five others set out from there to South Georgia to organise a rescue mission. Miraculously the rest of the crew were safely rescued at the fourth attempt, when a rescue party reached them on 30 August 1916, 128 days after Shackleton had left. It’s considered to be one of the great survival stories of human history.

The Endurance, was insured in the Lloyds market for £15,000 at a rate of 10%, with the hull, machinery and equipment all underwritten. It was the first ever vessel to be insured to sail into Antarctic waters - the Times newspaper reported "Hitherto the insurance of vessels taking part in Antarctic exploration has ceased at the last port touched, and Endurance will be the first vessel to be insured in the ice zone." It was deemed a safe risk to cover because all previous voyages to the Antarctic had returned safely.

News that the Endurance was missing came first via Lloyd’s. A press report stated “Apart from the natural anxiety as to the fate of Sir Ernest, underwriters are now somewhat concerned about the safety of the expedition ship Endurance, which has not been heard of since she left South Georgia in December 1914 to carry the transatlantic party to their starting point”.

The Endurance was presumed lost and an entry was made into the Loss Book in 1916, the year after her demise, due to the amount of time it took for Shackleton to reach civilisation and send the message back to the United Kingdom regarding the sinking of the ship.

107 years later the wreck, remarkably intact and about 10,000 feet underwater in the Weddell Sea, was discovered by a research vessel. The name Endurance on the stern was still clearly legible, but scientists did not salvage any part of the wreck; the ship is now a protected historic site and monument, under the Antarctic treaty system.