New footage reveals the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton's final vessel, Quest

Researchers have released close-up images of the Quest wreck in the Labrador Sea, showing its remaining structure, marine life and fishing nets.

A joint effort by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has produced the first detailed images of Quest, the vessel where Sir Ernest Shackleton suffered a fatal heart attack in 1922. The ship lies in the Labrador Sea, roughly 1,280 feet beneath the surface, and remains recognizable despite decades of decay, with its metal superstructure largely intact and its wooden components rapidly breaking down.

The wreck is encrusted with pink corals and populated by cod, red fish and wolf fish, while extensive fishing nets cover portions of the hull. The expedition used WHOI's Falcon ROV and the historic submersible Alvin, supported by the National Science Foundation, to create a digital twin of the site. Researchers intend to study the wreck digitally to enhance understanding of maritime history and deep-sea ecosystems, rather than retrieving artifacts. The discovery follows recent research that re-examined the loss of Shackleton's earlier ship, Endurance.