Ghost Ships of the Arctic

In 1845, Sir John Franklin and his men sailed from England on HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, hopeful to find the final link of the Northwest Passage. Both ships were abandoned in 1848, and it was believed that the crews walked to their deaths across the Arctic. The recent discoveries of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror re-open the interpretation of what happened to Franklin’s men as they tried to escape the Arctic. This presentation showcases the search efforts lead by Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Team in their exploration of these wrecks in one of Canada’s most challenging environments. Dr Marc-André Bernier is the Head of Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology team for which he has worked since 1990. He has worked all over Canada and the world, and has directed many notable projects including the excavation part of Sir William Phips’ fleet, and the discovery of a World War II American plane in the St. Lawrence River. He is the former Chair and a member of the International Committee on the Underwater Cultural Heritage.