TS Pelican to support historic Shackleton re-enactment

by Kate Holmes on 9 Jun 2012 The TS Pelican now has the joy of making known its role as expedition support vessel for the official re-enactment of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s historic crossing of the Southern Ocean. The announcement was made today by Richard Burn and The Hon. Alexandra Shackleton on board the vessel moored at West India Dock on The Thames River, London.

The Shackleton Epic expedition, which will use 1916 technology, food and equipment to recreate Shackleton’s legendary journey will set sail from Elephant Island in January 2013.

TS Pelican, will follow the voyage and play a key support role in the expedition. Expedition leader, Tim Jarvis AM said that he felt very confident knowing that the TS Pelican would form part of this historic event.

'TS Pelican is almost identical in size to Shackleton’s Endurance and the ship will provide exceptional communications, safety and a filming platform for the Shackleton Epic expedition. We envisage that TS Pelican will ‘shadow’ our boat, Alexandra Shackleton, a replica of the James Caird, as we sail the 800 miles from Elephant Island to South Georgia in January next year,' Tim Jarvis said.

'It is the perfect sail training vessel to form part of the expedition and its presence in the Southern Ocean will provide a level of security that Shackleton and his men would have welcomed,' he said.

Richard Burn, Honorary Trustee of TS Pelican, said that 'it was exciting for the ship to participate in the historic re-enactment and demonstrated TS Pelican’s reputation for first-rate sail training services.'

'We will be departing from the UK on 22nd September headed south to rendezvous with the Shackleton Epic expedition in South America at the end of December. For those wishing to head south for the winter, TS Pelican will be selling voyage crew berths to the public on the voyage south from UK to Lisbon; Lisbon to Las Palmas; Las Palmas to Salvador and Salvador to Punta Arenas in Chile. The traditional ‘Shellback’ ceremony will be carried out upon crossing the Equator.

'The long voyage south or even the shorter legs will provide crew members with a memorable experience and give them an opportunity to experience first-hand the tenacity and thrills involved in tall ship sailing,' commented Ben Swain, Education and Training Manager at Adventure Under Sail.

At this time, TS Pelican will not be taking passengers onboard for the Shackleton Epic expedition.

Shackleton Epic website
Adventure Under Sail website