Quest was a low-powered, schooner-rigged steamship built in 1917 in Risør, Norway. Originally named Foca I, she was a wooden-hulled sealing vessel measuring approximately 111 feet (34 meters) in length, with a beam of 24 feet (7.3 meters) and a depth of hold of 12 feet (3.7 meters). Her gross tonnage was rated at around 209 to 214 GRT, possibly reflecting modifications made during her career. The vessel gained prominence as the flagship of the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition of 1921–1922. During this expedition, she was renamed Quest by Lady Emily Shackleton, wife of Sir Ernest Shackleton. The ship was extensively refitted for the voyage, including re-rigging and the addition of a deckhouse, under the supervision of sailing master Frank Worsley. As Shackleton’s expedition vessel, Quest flew the White Ensign and bore the Royal Yacht Squadron suffix. Quest's notable service includes her departure from London on September 17, 1921, heading to the Southern Ocean. She arrived at South Georgia on January 4, 1922, where Shackleton died aboard her on January 5, marking a significant moment in maritime and polar exploration history. Following Shackleton’s death, Quest conducted a limited survey of the Weddell Sea before returning to England in July 1922. Her performance was hampered by her weak engine and ice adaptation issues, such as her straight stem, which made her less suitable for icy conditions. In subsequent years, Quest was refitted again in Norway (1924) and participated in various expeditions, including efforts to rescue survivors of the Italia Arctic airship crash in 1928, and the British Arctic Air Route Expedition (1930–1931). She also served as a sealing vessel, a cargo and minesweeper during WWII, and returned to sealing afterward. Her operational life ended when she sank off Labrador in May 1962 after being holed by ice, though her crew was saved. Parts of her structure, including Shackleton’s cabin, survive in museums, and her wreck was discovered in 2024 at about 390 meters deep near Labrador, largely intact apart from a broken main mast. Quest remains a vessel of significant historical maritime and polar exploration importance.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.