New images show remarkable state of preservation of Ernest Shackleton's ship
New images of Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, show its remarkable preservation over a century after sinking. A National Geographic documentary featuring AI-generated narrations of Shackleton's diaries will premiere in 2024.
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Newly released images of Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, reveal its remarkable preservation over a century after it sank in the Weddell Sea. Discovered in 2022 at a depth of 3 kilometers, the ship remains largely intact, with its rigging, helm, and woodwork well-preserved. The images, created from 25,000 digital scans by underwater robots, also show personal items from the crew, including dining plates and a knee-length boot, possibly belonging to Shackleton's second-in-command, Frank Wild. Notably, a flare gun fired by expedition photographer Frank Hurley as the ship sank has been found on the deck, highlighting the ship's historical significance. The scans reveal damage from ice but indicate that the vessel has not significantly decayed. The findings accompany a new National Geographic documentary that utilizes AI to recreate the voices of Shackleton and his crew, allowing them to narrate their diaries. The documentary will premiere at the London Film Festival on October 12, 2024, and will be available in UK cinemas and on Disney+ later this year.
- New images show the remarkable preservation of Shackleton's ship, Endurance, over a century after it sank.
- The ship was discovered in 2022 at a depth of 3 kilometers in the Weddell Sea.
- Personal items, including a flare gun and crew's dining plates, were found on the wreck.
- The preservation state of the ship is attributed to the cold Antarctic waters.
- A National Geographic documentary featuring AI-generated narrations of Shackleton's diaries will be released soon.
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7 commentsJimmy Chin is the director. He just discovered some remains of Andrew Irvine from the 1924 Everest expedition. Seems he's been having a good year.
> “Hurley gets this flare gun, and he fires the flare gun into the air with a massive detonator as a tribute to the ship,” John Shears, who led the expedition that found Endurance, told the BBC. “And then in the diary, he talks about putting it down on the deck. And there we are. We come back over 100 years later, and there’s that flare gun. Incredible.”
Hmm. 3km underwater, sunken 100+ years ago, and the flare gun is still just resting there?
> “Being able to bring those diary readings to life using AI means you’re listening to Shackleton and his team narrating their own diaries, and it is their voices,” said Jimmy Chin, one of the directors. “That was something that couldn’t have been done even a few years ago, which really brings a new aspect of the film to life.”
There's a show?
> Endurance will be at London film festival on 12 October, in UK cinemas on 14 October and on Disney+ later this year.
Disney! I get it now. Cool story bro!
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