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THE STORY SO FAR
In 1915, when attempting to cross Antarctica, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, became trapped in dense pack ice. The 28 men on board spent 10 months in the ice before escaping in lifeboats and on foot, and their ship was lost to the Weddell Sea.
Attempts to find the ship were fruitless for a century but the British-led Endurance22 expedition, organised by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust finally found the wreck in 2022. It is largely intact, with cooking utensils and personal effects preserved by the icy water. The ship’s name and the pole star emblem are still clearly visible, making it one of the best-preserved wrecks of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration.
The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) was created in 1993 to conserve British Antarctic heritage for future generations. For the last year, UKAHT has been working in partnership with Historic England to create a conservation management plan - a framework for protecting Endurance, detailing how to study it responsibly, and inspiring people across the globe with its story.
© Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge
THE APPROACH
The conservation management plan describes the conservation management principles which will enable Endurance to be preserved into the future. There is little that is needed or can be practically done to conserve the wreck, but guidance on how the whole site can be protected, by controlling access and guiding further study, seeks to prevent future harm.
Endurance lies at the bottom of the Weddell Sea, 3,000m below sea level, in one of the most remote parts of the globe. This makes it one of the world’s most inaccessible historic sites.
Fortunately, the sub-zero temperatures and the absence of certain kinds of marine biological organisms due to the extreme cold mean that the site has been preserved in good condition and remains stable, and is, therefore, best protected in situ.
The plan lays out guidance for how to best protect the wreck. Access to the wreck must be controlled to protect the integrity of the site. Therefore, all future research will be geared around enhancing the significance of Endurance.
The framework recommends non-destructive research methods, and will leave the artefacts with the wreck. We will assess any future threats to the stability of the wreck – temperature change, for example – and take steps to mitigate any risks.
UKAHT, Historic England, and our partner stakeholders are committed to absolute transparency in the conservation of Endurance, working in collaboration with international experts and other signatories to the Antarctic Treaty.
PRESERVING ENDURANCE UNDER THE ANTARCTIC TREATY
There are 56 active member countries signed up to the Antarctic Treaty, and all are governed by strict rules regarding scientific research, environmental protection, and the management of historic sites – of which there are 95 across Antarctica.
The wreck of Endurance is designated as an historic site and monument (HSM) No.93 and the UK has primary management of the site.
Endurance is also a site of ecological significance, and our conservation plan takes that into account. The wreck of Endurance is in effect an artificial reef, providing a niche for a wide variety of sessile, filter-feeding animals. This provides a unique opportunity for Antarctic marine biologists to study the colonisation of the vessel and its impact on the environment.
UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS
We believe that conserving Endurance in situ is the best course of action but no strategy is entirely without risk. There are several potential threats that could impact Endurance. Here are some of the principal concerns:
A lack of published data
We are awaiting the full wreck survey and archaeological report, which will reveal any parts of the ship that could be especially vulnerable
Subsea tech
While deep water ROVs, AUVs, and submersibles have been tested in many environments, their use beneath extensive ice cover has been limited. Therefore there is a risk of collision or accidental damage
Theft
There is a danger that people or organisations will attempt to recover artefacts from the wreck without authorisation.
Damage through tourism
As the excitement around Endurance builds, it is possible that tourism could present a threat. Any attempt to visit the site – even entering the vicinity – could cause damage to the wreck.
Fishing
There is potential for abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear to become entangled within the wreck.
Climate change
The consequences of climate change on the long-term survival of the wreck site are still unknown. Increased water temperature and ocean acidification could result in accelerated biological and chemical decay of the shipwreck.
MITIGATION STRATEGIES
While some findings from the Endurance22 expedition have been made public, the full wreck survey will come later. Once this is available, the CMP will be revised to reflect the fuller understanding of the wreck.
Any plan to visit the site must be subject to both an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA). Experts from heritage management, maritime archaeology, polar exploration, deep sea engineering, marine biology and more should be consulted before permits are issued. The organisations and pilots must have a track record in deep-sea expeditions to be considered for missions of this kind.
While we recognise that any attempt to study the site does come with some risk, there are also benefits. Not only does this site allow technologists to expand the range and specialisms of these subsea technologies, but they will also be vital in our efforts to bring this incredible historic site to life.
The remote location of the wreck, the coverage of ice, and the extreme depth at which the wreck lies all make the risk of unauthorised access low. However, to afford enhanced protection we recommend the HSM designated area be extended to a 1500m radius from the wreck site to ensure that the full debris field is protected.
In addition, the UK and partner nations are keen to pursue further protected status within the Antarctic Treaty System, one such instrument would be the designation of the wreck site as an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA), which will be developed.
To further mitigate the risk of unauthorised access, including by tourists or fishing vessels, we may choose to use digital monitoring tools. By notifying the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) of the precise coordinates of the site, it will be easier to declare the area a no-go zone for unauthorised vessels.
We rely on the vigilance of vessels operating in the wider area, as they will report any unauthorised ships near the coordinates of Endurance. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators has already pledged their support for the plan and asked their members not to plan any visits to the area. They have also confirmed no tourist vessel has the submersible capability to reach such depths at present. Similar discussions with representatives from the fishing industry through the Antarctic Treaty System will, we hope, help to establish guidelines for activity in the area.
We cannot stop temperatures from rising, or change the weather, but we can monitor the ongoing impact of climate change, and adapt our conservation plans accordingly should the need arise.
OPPORTUNITIES
It is clear from the data/imagery captured during its discovery that this wreck has the potential to tell a thrilling story of how these great adventurers lived and worked aboard the ship.
We will be able to understand more about the construction of the ship and also see the modifications and repairs undertaken by the carpenter and the ship’s crew. We will reach a true understanding of the damage inflicted on the vessel while it was trapped in the ice. In addition, there is potential to obtain information about the physical, chemical, and biological processes which have occurred while the vessel has been on the seabed.
The wreck also hosts a wide variety of marine life. The analysis of this rare and important marine ecosystem is at an early stage and will progress further as the data are released into the public domain.
SHARING THE STORY
Endurance will not be removed from the water and exhibited in a museum, but this does not mean it will be hidden away from the public.
The high-resolution imagery, video and digital data captured during the discovery of the wreck provides a wealth of visual information that can be used for education and immersive experiences. These data can be turned into interactive resources for use in scientific research by museums and for exhibitions which will allow people to discover and experience the wreck.
The history of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration is well documented but the discovery of the wreck site has reignited interest in this fascinating period of history. It will help bring the books, TV programmes and museum exhibits to the forefront, and provides new rich content for public engagement.
SIX KEY CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES, AT A GLANCE
All activity relating to the site should be undertaken with the aim to preserve and/or enhance the significance of the site. There will be a presumption in favour of a non-destructive survey in preference to any recovery of the wreck structure or artefacts.
The biodiversity, habitats, and ecology of the wreck of Endurance will be studied, recorded, and conserved.
Long-term challenges to the significance of the wreck of Endurance will be identified, and mitigation methods explored with stakeholders and partner organisations.
Access to the wreck site will be managed to ensure that activities are not detrimental to the significance of the site.
The significance of the site will be enhanced by maximising opportunities for knowledge enhancement and public dissemination.
The ongoing management of the wreck will be transparent and collaborative and based on clear policies outlined in this Conservation Management Plan.
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