British explorer Ernest Shackleton’s famous lost ship – HMS Endurance – has been digitally brought back to life over a century after it sank, putting an end to a historic Antarctic expedition.
In October 1915, Shackleton and his 27-man crew set out to cross the Antarctic continent, in what would’ve been a world-first. However, their vessel became stuck in ice just weeks into their mission, forcing them to abandon ship.
Incredibly, Shackleton’s entire crew survived, after crossing hundreds of miles of polar ice. But until recently, HMS Endurance had been left stranded 3,000 meters under the sea. Now, as part of an upcoming documentary, the expedition ship has been digitized in full with 3D scanning.
Put together from 25,000 underwater images, the resulting model features a remarkable level of detail, from the vessel’s 44-meter wooden deck to the dinner plates used during its final voyage. Even the flare gun mentioned in the crew’s journals can be seen amongst the wreckage.
When the ship itself was discovered in the Weddell Sea two years ago, it was seen as highly unlikely that it would ever resurface. But these 3D scans have now effectively done just that – brought the vessel back to life for history lovers and researchers the world over.
With the power of AI, it’s even possible to view this highly detailed model while listening to the crew’s insights on their fateful voyage, as documentary director Jimmy Chin explains.
“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,” Chin told the BBC News.
“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.”
For the full experience, viewers can see the appropriately named documentary Endurance in UK cinemas from October 14, following its premiere at the London Film Festival.
