New photos and videos of Scott's wrecked ship Terra Nova

12/06/2025

The wreck of the ship that carried Captain Robert Scott on his doomed expedition to the Antarctic has been surveyed for the first time.

A team of maritime archaeologists has completed the first visual survey of the wreck of SS Terra Nova, one of the most iconic vessels in the history of polar exploration. 

Built in 1884, Terra Nova was a robust wooden whaling ship designed to withstand harsh polar conditions. Before gaining worldwide recognition as the expedition ship for Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated Antarctic journey, Terra Nova had already proven herself in polar service. In 1903, she was chartered as a relief vessel to resupply and assist in freeing RRS Discovery from the ice in McMurdo Sound during Scott’s first expedition. 

Terra Nova in 1911 (Herbert Ponting/Public Domain)

In 1905, Terra Nova also played a role in Arctic rescue operations, assisting in the recovery of personnel from the failed Ziegler Polar Expedition, stranded in Franz Josef Land. These early missions cemented her reputation as a dependable and capable vessel in extreme environments. 

Her most renowned role came during the British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913, more popularly known as the Terra Nova Expedition. As the primary expedition ship, Terra Nova transported Scott and his team to Antarctica for their attempt to reach the South Pole. Although his team attained the pole, they found that Roald Amundsen’s Norwegian team had beaten them by 34 days. Scott's party of five perished on the return journey from the pole.

Terra Nova during the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13 (Herbert Ponting/Public Domain)

The expedition is remembered for its scientific contributions and the extraordinary endurance displayed by those involved. Terra Nova’s involvement secured her place in the history of polar exploration. 

Following her polar service, Terra Nova returned to commercial duties, becoming a mainstay of the Newfoundland seal fisheries before serving in World War II. She sank off the coast of Greenland in 1943 after sustaining ice damage. Her final resting place remained unknown until 2012, when the wreck was discovered at a depth of around 300m (984ft), a hundred years after Captain Scott’s death. 

Sonar mapping in 2012 revealed the location of the Terra Nova (Schmidt Ocean Institute)

This year, in scenes reminiscent of the discovery of Shackleton’s ship Endurance, which is now in the care of UKAHT, the exploration yacht MY Legend has completed a detailed visual survey of the site. 

Using advanced underwater technology and a modern submersible, the expedition captured high-resolution imagery of the wreck, confirming its identity and revealing key structural features. The survey also documented a vibrant marine ecosystem, with cold-water corals, anemones, and fish thriving on the wreck.

“MY Legend’s survey of Terra Nova is the icing on the cake for a project nearly two decades in the making. What began as a concept in 2005 led to the successful discovery of the wreck in 2012, and now, thanks to this latest expedition, we have finally been able to conduct a detailed visual survey of one of the most iconic vessels in polar history. Legend’s work has answered many of the long-standing questions surrounding the condition and final moments of the Terra Nova, and in doing so, it brings closure to a story that has captivated polar historians for over a century.” 
– Leighton Rolley, Project Lead for the SS Terra Nova Discovery

Then and now: the helm station (SPRI/Public Domain, Leighton Rolley/MY Legend)

This achievement not only confirms the location and condition of a legendary ship but also also deepens our understanding of the maritime history and underwater ecosystems of the polar regions.

“This dive was the culmination of years of planning, coordination, and patience. To be the first to lay eyes on the Terra Nova since it sank 80 years ago was both humbling and exhilarating. We surveyed as much of the wreck as possible, from the striking split bow to the scattered remnants of her deck gear. One of the most powerful moments was discovering the helm station near the stern – a symbolic and moving find. It was also incredible to see how a beautiful marine ecosystem is now thriving on the wreck, bringing new life to this historic site. This mission was about more than just documentation; it was about honouring a ship that carried some of the greatest ambitions of the Heroic Age. I’m incredibly proud of what our team achieved.”
– Aldo Kuhn, Submersible Officer onboard MY Legend

The expedition, which had been in planning for several years due to the site's remote location, also aimed to assess the wreck following international maritime heritage protocols. Initial findings indicate that Terra Nova sustained significant damage during the sinking. After the crew was rescued, the vessel caught fire and was ultimately administered a coup de grâce by armed coastguard rescue vessels to prevent it from drifting and becoming a navigational hazard. The aft section appears to have struck the seabed first, and the wreck’s bow is now split in two. Despite the extensive damage, many of the ship’s defining features remain visible and recognisable.

Then and now: winch motors (SPRI/Public Domain, Leighton Rolley/MY Legend)

Supported by a multidisciplinary team of historians, marine archaeologists and technical experts, the mission adds a vital chapter to the story of polar exploration. Coming in the wake of the historic discoveries of Shackleton’s Endurance and Quest, this survey expands our collective understanding of the ships that carried explorers into the unknown. 

“The oak-built Terra Nova was one of the best and most doughty ice ships ever crafted by the hand of man. Its very name evokes the great heroic age of polar exploration when a handful of remarkable men, by mapping the coast and exploring the interior, lifted the veil on the Great White Continent of Antarctica. When we think of the Terra Nova, we of course think of Scott, Evans, Oates, Wilson and Bowers, who, in their quest for geographic knowledge and glory, were pushed to their perishable limits and beyond.

The quest for the Endurance was conceived in a London coffee bar on 16th August 2012, on the very day the discovery of the Terra Nova was announced to the world. In our ten-year hunt for Shackleton’s ship, when at moments it looked like we might not attain our goal, the success of the Terra Nova team was a source of inspiration. The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (which oversaw the search for the Endurance) offers its sincere congratulations to Leighton Rolley, Aldo Kuhn and the team for their great work in finding, and now surveying, the wreck of the Terra Nova.”
– Mensun Bound, Director of Exploration, Endurance22, Trustee, Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust

Together, these discoveries illuminate the enduring legacy of the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration – an era defined by resilience, innovation and the relentless pursuit of knowledge in the planet’s harshest environments.