An expedition led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) has captured the first images of the sunken ship Quest, the final vessel of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.The ship, which sank in 1962 off the coast of Labrador, was found 400 metres below the surface after a two-year search using side-scan sonar.The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) revealed the ship's stern tangled in fishing nets, raising concerns about the damage caused by trawl fishing.

While the wreck's historical features remain intact, the fishing gear has obscured parts of the ship, complicating efforts to document its condition.

The RCGS partnered with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to conduct the mission, which also includes creating a digital twin of the wreck using 3D imaging.The expedition will later explore another wreck, the Terra Nova, linked to Robert Falcon Scott's 1912 Antarctic expedition.

The findings highlight the importance of preserving maritime heritage while addressing environmental threats like fishing activity in sensitive marine areas.