Spettacolo
Search for Shackleton's 'Endurance' Prepares to Set Sail
An important aim of the Expedition is to bring the story of Shackleton, his ship and the members of his team to new and younger audiences. The challenges of exploration and of carrying out scientific research, fundamental to our understanding of climate change, form part of that story. The Trust is pleased to be working in partnership with History Hit, the video and content platform co-founded by historian Dan Snow , part of the award-winning digital content agency and media network Little Dot Studios. On board the SA Agulhas II, the South African icebreaking polar supply and research ship being used for the Expedition, will be a team of highly experienced extreme environment film makers, who will document the events in real time and publish material on several digital channels and social media platforms.
The Expedition has also engaged with the US-based education organisation, Reach the World, which connects young people in their classrooms directly with explorers, and who will be represented on board the Agulhas II.
The Expedition is delighted to be working with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) to engage and enthuse pupils by producing free teaching and learning resources for classroom use. By using the resources, pupils will be able to study changes in polar exploration and the different motivations for why people visit Antarctica , as well as this continent's unique frozen environment.
The expedition team will include leading polar scientists who will be conducting a range of studies of the ice and climate change related matters, advancing our knowledge of the Antarctic environment and global warming. These include measuring and recording the sea-ice conditions, in order to develop a system that in time will provide continuous and automatic data of sea-ice conditions in the Antarctic, where currently very limited information exists.
Preparations for the expedition have been progressing well, including successful sea trials. The trials involved deep water deployment and testing of the SAAB Sabertooth hybrid underwater search vehicles, which will be used to locate, survey and film the wreck. These state-of-the-art vehicles combine the attributes of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), being able to follow a pre-programmed course, and remote operating vehicles (ROVs), sending digital signals through a fibre optic cable to the surface in real time.
The teams that will establish and operate ice camps, allowing drilling through the sea ice and the deployment of the Sabertooths at a distance from Agulhas II, have also undertaken training and testing and developed procedures and experience that will be invaluable when they are called on to function on the ice floes of the Weddell Sea.
Donald Lamont , Chairman of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, said:
Polar explorer and Expedition Leader, Dr John Shears , said:
Director of Exploration, Mensun Bound, said:
Dan Snow , co-Founder and Creative Director of History Hit, said:
www.fmht.co.uk
https://endurance22.org/