Endurance shipwreck threatened by global heating, says Mensun Bound

The wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance, which became trapped in ice and sank more than a century ago, was discovered by Mensun Bound, who was a marine archaeologist.

He is warning that the protection of the site can't be guaranteed due to the threats of global heating and underwater robotic technology.

He believes that ocean acidification and melting ice will take their toll on Endurance, with underwater robotic systems becoming so advanced that he can imagine them being programmed from afar to travel beneath the ice of the Weddell Sea.

The discovery of Shackleton's vessel in March solved one of the great maritime mysteries. The bell and rudder can be seen clearly in the state of preservation.

Bound fears for their survival, what if an observation class submersible had a manipulating arm tucked away beneath its bonnet? Would they be able to resist the bell?

In the latest issue of Wreckwatch magazine, he spoke about the dangers of ice wrecks.

The search for a vehicle that became trapped beneath the ice was called off after Bound, the director of exploration on the Endurance22 project, became aware of the situation.

In Wreckwatch, he compares the environmental conditions on both expeditions, shocked by a dramatic deterioration. We were never in danger of becoming ice-bound this time because it was mostly thin first-year ice. If the trend continues, we won't be able to depend on that hard carapace of perennial sea ice to protect the Endurance.

He says that there has always been environmental change of one kind or another. What we are seeing now is nothing more than the flick of a penguin's tail. Although it looks peaceful and beautiful, it is a continent in pain and poised for catastrophe.

The ship Endurance was found in pictures.

The expedition was described as a non-disturbance survey.

He was asked about wrecks that are often pillaged once found. The Golden Age of maritime archaeology is often described as a race against time.

Sean Kingsley, a marine archaeologist and Wreckwatch's editor, said that Mensun's global warming take is very powerful and timely. What can we do to protect a national gem 3,000 metres deep on the dark side of the earth? Should we leave major sites like this to fall apart and be plundered? Is it possible to recover select parts? After all, ice wreck after ice wreck will come to light as global warming pinches.

The wrecks of the Endurance and ice are featured in an exhibition.