A Finnish professor’s recent research suggests that Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance was poorly designed for Antarctic conditions, challenging the long-held belief that ice pressure was the main cause of its sinking. The ship, which became entangled in ice on January 18, 1915, and sank on November 21, 1915, was hailed as nearly indestructible at the time. However, according to Jukka Tuhkuri, an expert in polar engineering, the vessel’s structural flaws made it susceptible to collapse under the compression of Antarctic pack ice. Tuhkuri’s findings, published in the Polar Record, argue that the ship’s design was inadequate for the extreme conditions of the Antarctic, unlike other polar ships built for such environments. The research came to light as the remains of Endurance were discovered in 2022, revealing the ship in remarkable condition, with its name still visible on the hull. This new perspective on the Endurance’s fate highlights the importance of understanding historical ship design and its limitations in extreme climates.
The analysis of Endurance’s structure, including its lack of cross-beams in the engine room and limited diagonal bracing, underscores the vulnerability of the vessel to side-to-side crushing forces. Compared to other wooden polar ships, Endurance was found to be less resilient, as evidenced by its susceptibility to compressive forces. Letters from Shackleton and expedition diaries further support this conclusion, indicating that Shackleton himself was aware of the ship’s design weaknesses before embarking on the expedition. This suggests that the sinking of Endurance was not a result of unexpected circumstances but rather a consequence of its design limitations in the harsh Antarctic environment. The discovery of the shipwreck in 2022 provides a tangible link to this historical event, allowing researchers to examine the ship’s structural integrity and validate Tuhkuri’s claims. The findings not only shed light on the fate of Endurance but also emphasize the broader implications of ship design in polar exploration. As the remains of the Endurance remain intact, the ship’s story and its lessons about engineering and environmental challenges continue to captivate historians and engineers alike.