Letter: Here's why Shackleton wreck is so pristine

From John Shears, Expedition leader, Endurance22

Reader Gerald Legg asks why the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, found at the bottom of the Weddell Sea in Antarctica, looks so good (Letters, 16 November).

There are several reasons. The cold water temperatures (-1.8°C; 28°F), total darkness, low oxygen and lack of sedimentation, together with the ship’s strong wooden construction, have all contributed to preserve the ship. But the most important reason for the lack of decay is the absence of any shipworms. These bore into and eat wood in other oceans and destroy wooden shipwrecks, unless the timbers are covered rapidly by mud and sediments. Shipworms aren’t found in the Weddell Sea as the water is too cold for them to survive and there is no wood for them to eat.

Those fascinated by Endurance can read more about its incredible condition in the book Endurance: The discovery of Shackleton’s legendary ship, by me and my colleague Nico Vincent.