Discovery of Second Missing British Ship in the Arctic Region After 170 Years

Researchers say they have found the second British ship that disappeared nearly 170 years ago near the North Pole. The Arctic Research Foundation reports that this ship was discovered near Canada about a month ago. Until the first ship was found two years ago, the fate of these two British ships was one of the most mysterious topics of the last two centuries, and now the discovery of this ship has made it possible to investigate the fate of the vessels. Sir John Franklin and 128 carefully selected officers and crew set out in 1845 (171 years ago) with two ships to find the Northwest Passage, a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic. The mission of these 129 individuals not only failed but resulted in the sinking of both ships and the death of all aboard, marking the deadliest incident for British naval explorations in the Arctic. Now, two years and one day after the discovery of the first ship named Erebus, the Arctic Research Foundation has announced the discovery of the second ship named HMS Terror. This ship was found near King William Island in northern Canada, in an untouched condition. Although final tests to confirm the identity of the ship have not yet been completed, researchers say there is substantial evidence indicating that the discovered ship is HMS Terror. They have even found two bottles of wine, a can, food supplies, and a plate in the ship, which sank 170 years ago, alongside a bell that was found nearby. The tragedy of the two British ships has always been part of the narratives and stories of the Inuit indigenous people in the Arctic region. Interestingly, the discovery of this ship may not have been possible without the Inuit. An Inuit hunter named Sami Koguyuk had seen a piece of wood that was part of this ship years earlier and had taken a photo with it, but after losing his camera on the way home, he decided not to speak about it. Years later, while discussing the history of the area with Adrian Schimnowski, head of the Arctic Research Group, he mentioned the incident from years prior, which became a clue for the recent discovery. HMS Terror was previously one of the British warships used in the 1814 Battle of Baltimore, which inspired a poem by Francis Scott Key that became the basis for the U.S. national anthem. Alongside historians' excitement about this discovery, the completion of this research project is also very significant for Canada. The Canadian government has invested millions of dollars in this project for about eight years, and even then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper participated in this research project. This investment was aimed at promoting nationalism and asserting Canada's sovereignty over the Northwest Passage. Canada claims ownership of this key passage, while the U.S. and others consider it an international strait.