View source for Antarctic (ship)

{{short description|Swedish steamship used for several polar expeditions}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image               = SS Antarctic in Tromsø A.jpg
| Ship caption             = ''Antarctic'' in [[Tromsø]] harbor, 1898
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header              = 
| Ship name                = ''Antarctic''
| Ship owner               = 
| Ship operator            = 
| Ship registry            = {{flag|Sweden}}
| Ship route               = 
| Ship ordered             = 
| Ship builder             = 
| Ship laid down           = 
| Ship launched            = 1871, in [[Drammen]], [[Norway]]
| Ship completed           = 
| Ship christened          = 
| Ship acquired            = 
| Ship maiden voyage       = 
| Ship in service          = 
| Ship out of service      = 
| Ship identification      = 
| Ship fate                = Sank 12 February 1903
| Ship notes               = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header              = 
| Header caption           = 
| Ship type               = [[Steamship]]
| Ship tonnage             = 226 netto
| Ship displacement        = 
| Ship length              = {{convert|41.5|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam                = 
| Ship height              = {{convert|33.5|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught             = 
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| Ship ice class           = 
| Ship sail plan           = [[Barque]]
| Ship power               = 
| Ship propulsion          = Sails, {{convert|45|hp|abbr=on}} auxiliary steam engine
| Ship speed               = {{convert|6|kn|km/h}}
| Ship capacity            = 346 brutto
| Ship crew                = 
| Ship notes               = 
}}
|}

'''''Antarctic''''' was a [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[steamship]] built in [[Drammen]], [[Norway]], in 1871. She was used on several research expeditions to the [[Arctic]] region and to [[Antarctica]] from 1893 to 1903. In 1895 the first confirmed landing on the mainland of Antarctica was made from this ship.

==The ship==
''Antarctic'' was a [[barque]] with three masts and equipped with a [[steam engine]], built in 1871 at Holmen in [[Drammen]] in Norway under the name ''Cap Nor''.<ref name="A">[https://runeberg.org/polexp1898/0017.html], Alfred Nathorst, ”Två Somrar i Norra Ishafvet”, first part (in Swedish), 1900, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="BB">[https://archive.today/20130223012136/http://www.nb.no/utlevering/contentview.jsf?&urn=URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008121110001%23&struct=DIV44], Henrik Bull, ”The cruise of the "Antarctic" to the South Polar regions”, 1896, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="B">{{cite web|url=http://www.geo.uu.se/default.aspx?pageid=213&lan=0|title=Axel Hamberg på Nathorstexpeditionen 1898|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725113619/http://www.geo.uu.se/default.aspx?pageid=213&lan=0|archive-date=2011-07-25|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-12-11}}, Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University (in Swedish), accessdate=2010-12-10</ref>

Initially ''Antarctic'' was used for [[seal hunting]] around [[Svalbard]], [[Jan Mayen]] and [[Greenland]].<ref name="AA">[https://runeberg.org/nfba/0622.html], Nordisk Familjebok, Project Runeberg, Linköping University (in Swedish), accessdate=2010-12-10</ref>  During that period the ship was captained by Gullik Jensen.

In the early 1890s Norwegian ship-owner [[Svend Foyn]] wanted to expand his business to the Antarctic Ocean thereby needing capable ships. Foyn then purchased ''Cap Nor'', made extensive repairs and after completion renamed the ship ''Antarctic''.<ref name=A/><ref name=B/><ref name=AA/> From 1893 the ship was deployed to the [[Antarctic Ocean]] for [[whale hunting]].

In 1897 the ship was purchased by [[Alfred Gabriel Nathorst]] for his planned expedition to Svalbard. Again extensive repairs were made prior to the expedition in 1898.<ref name=A/><ref name=B/><ref name=AA/>

In 1899 Nathorst sold the ship to [[Georg Carl Amdrup]] for his expedition to [[Tunu|East Greenland]].<ref name=AA/>

In 1900 Amdrup sold ''Antarctic'' to [[Otto Nordenskjöld]] who needed the ship for his [[Swedish Antarctic Expedition|Antarctic expedition]].

==The expeditions==
[[File:Antarctic 2.png|thumb|''Antarctic'' leaving Gothenburg harbor, 1901]]
In 1893 ''Antarctic'' captained by [[Leonard Kristensen]] set off on a whaling expedition to Antarctica led by [[Henrik Johan Bull]] and financed by Foyn. The ship was equipped with 11 harpoon guns, an arsenal of explosives, 8 whaleboats and 31 men and left [[Tønsberg]] on September 20, 1893. The first summer was spent around the [[Kerguelen Islands]] with winter camp in [[Melbourne]]. On September 28, 1894, the ship went off to sea heading for the [[Ross Sea]].

On January 24, 1895, a boat was put ashore at [[Cape Adare]] at the northern extremity of [[Victoria Land]] with six men including Bull, [[Carsten Borchgrevink|Borchgrevink]], Kristensen and [[Alexander von Tunzelmann|Tunzelmann]]. The party performed the first confirmed landing on the continent of Antarctica, exactly who went ashore first was never cleared as all members claimed the honor (possibly British-American sealer [[John Davis (sealer)|John Davis]] had already made a landing on the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] on February 7, 1821, this claim can, however, not be confirmed).<ref name="XX">[https://archive.today/20130112163351/http://www.nb.no/utlevering/contentview.jsf?urn=URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008121110001%23&struct=DIV204], Norska Nasjonalbiblioteket-National Library of Norway (in Norwegian), accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="XXX">[http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Henrik_Bull/utdypning_%E2%80%93_2], Norsk biografisk leksikon-Norwegian Biografical encyclopedia (in Norwegian), accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="YY">[http://www.south-pole.com/p0000052.htm], South-Pole.com, An Antarctic Timeline, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="Y1">[http://www.antarctic-circle.org/rosove.htm], Antarctic-Circle.org, Antarctic voyages and expeditions, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="Y2">[http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/first-landing-antarctica], New Zealand History online, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="Y3">[http://www.norwaysforgottenexplorer.org/english/first-landing/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727130838/http://www.norwaysforgottenexplorer.org/english/first-landing/|date=2011-07-27}}, Norway's Forgotten Explorer.org, Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="Y4">[http://www.antarctica.org.nz/02-history/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113012639/http://antarctica.org.nz/02-history/index.html|date=2015-01-13}}, Antarctica.org, Antarctic History, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref>

In 1898 ''Antarctic'' captained by Emil Nilsson carried Nathorst's polar expedition to [[Bear Island (Norway)|Bear Island]], [[Svalbard]] and [[Kong Karls Land]].<ref name=A/> Among the participating scientists were [[Axel Hamberg]], [[Otto Kjellström]], [[Gustaf Kolthoff]] and [[Henrik Hesselman]].<ref name=B/>

In 1899 the ship left on an expedition also under the command of Nathorst to [[Avannaa|North Greenland]] with the dual purpose of searching for survivors of the 1897 [[S. A. Andrée's Arctic Balloon Expedition of 1897|Andrée's Arctic Balloon Expedition]] and geographical mapping the area.<ref name="C">[https://runeberg.org/polexp1899/0020.html], Alfred Nathorst, ”Två Somrar i Norra Ishafvet”, second part (in Swedish), 1900, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref>

Later the same year ''Antarctic'' carried Amdrup's expedition to [[Tunu|East Greenland]].<ref name=AA/>

In 1901 the ship, then on loan from Nordenskjöld, carried the second season of the [[Swedish-Russian Arc-of-Meridian Expedition]] under the command of [[Gerard De Geer]] to [[Svalbard]].<ref name=AA/><ref name="T">[http://gupea.ub.gu.se/dspace/bitstream/2077/10635/1/gupea_2077_10635_1.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310071417/http://gupea.ub.gu.se/dspace/bitstream/2077/10635/1/gupea_2077_10635_1.pdf |date=2012-03-10 }}, Department of Earth Sciences, Lisbeth Levander, Uppsala University (in Swedish), accessdate=2010-12-10</ref>

On October 16, 1901 ''Antarctic'' now captained by [[Carl Anton Larsen]] left [[Gothenburg]] harbor on Nordenskjold's [[Swedish Antarctic Expedition|Antarctic expedition]].<ref name="X">[http://www.south-pole.com/p0000091.htm], South-Pole.com, Nordenskjöld article, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name="Y">[https://runeberg.org/hvar8dag/3/0406.html], Hvar 8 dag, Project Runeberg, Linköping University (in Swedish), accessdate=2010-12-10</ref><ref name=V>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjerrang.no/aq/ |title=Antarctic Quest |access-date=2010-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713223627/http://www.bjerrang.no/aq/ |archive-date=2011-07-13 }}, Bjerrang, Antarctic quest, accessdate=2010-12-10</ref> This would become the ship's last voyage.

==The ship wrecking==
[[File:SSAntarctic.jpg|thumb|''Antarctic'' trapped in pack ice]]
[[File:Antarctic sinkt.jpg|thumb|''Antarctic sinking'']]

After exploring parts of the [[South Shetland Islands]] the expedition continued through the [[Antarctic Sound]] towards the [[Antarctic Peninsula]]. On January 15, 1902 [[Hope Bay]] was discovered. In February Nordenskjöld chose [[Snow Hill Island]] as winter camp for part of the expedition. After all preparations were completed ''Antarctic'' left for the [[Falkland Islands]].

After the winter the ship left the Falklands on November 5 heading back to the Antarctic Peninsula by way of [[Ushuaia]] for supplies. On December 29 ''Antarctic'' was trapped in pack ice near Hope Bay, and some of the crew was put ashore.<ref name=X/>

''Antarctic'' later broke free and continued towards [[Paulet Island]]; on the way the ship once again was trapped in pack ice on January 3, 1903. On February 3 the ship again broke free but was now damaged and leaking. Captain Larsen now intended to beach ''Antarctic'' on Paulet Island, but the ship was too damaged and sank about {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} off the coast on February 12, 1903.<ref name=T/><ref name=X/><ref name=V/><ref name=W>{{cite web|url=http://www.chalmers.se/HyperText/ChalmersMagasin/nr2_2003/Bodman.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717192230/http://www.chalmers.se/HyperText/ChalmersMagasin/nr2_2003/Bodman.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-17 }}, Chalmers Magazine, Chalmers University of Technology (in Swedish), accessdate=2010-12-10</ref>

In November all crewmembers (including [[Carl Skottsberg]], [[Johan Gunnar Andersson]], [[José María Sobral]] and [[Frank Wilbert Stokes]]) were rescued by the Argentine [[corvette]] [[ARA Uruguay|''Uruguay'']] captained by [[Julián Irízar]].

==Epitaph==
When Nathorst heard about the ship wrecking he commented "seems to me more glorious than if she had gone to meet the usual fate of vessels to slowly rot in some port, or to be used for something far off from her designation and purposes as an icy seas and research vessel".<ref name=B/>

In 1944 Johan Gunnar Andersson published a commemorative book ''Antarctic :Stolt har hon levat Stolt skall hon dö – Antarctic: proud she lived proud she shall die''.

The [[Antarctic Sound, Greenland|Antarctic Sound]], [[Antarctic Bay (Greenland)]] and [[Antarctic Haven]] in [[Greenland]], Antarcticberget in [[Jan Mayen]] as well as [[Antarctic Bay]] in [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands|South Georgia]] and the [[Antarctic Sound]] in Antarctica, were named after the ship.<ref name="GEUS">''Catalogue of place names in northern East Greenland'', Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland</ref><ref>{{usgs-gazetteer|id=486}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Placenames |url=https://data.npolar.no/placename/#!/7a54293c-4d12-520d-a4f5-3c127cb353a3 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=data.npolar.no}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Antarctic exploration ships from the Heroic Age, 1897–1922]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Antarctic (ship, 1871)}}
* [https://runeberg.org/polexp1898/0023.html About the Antarctic, by A G Nathorst (in Swedish)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725113638/http://www.geo.uu.se/Hambergsbilder/Hamberg_1898_13.jpg Photo of the Antarctic in Tromsø harbor]
* [http://www.esping.net/patagonien/images/nordenskjold_antarctic.htm Photo of the Antarctic in Ushuaia harbor]
* [http://www.south-pole.com/p0000091.htm About the shipwrecking of the Antarctic]
* [http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/scotia/gooant/gooant020303.htm Map of the wrecking area]

{{Polar exploration|state=collapsed}}

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[[Category:1871 ships]]
[[Category:Three-masted ships]]
[[Category:Whaling ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Norway]]
[[Category:Exploration ships]]
[[Category:Arctic exploration vessels]]
[[Category:Antarctic expeditions]]
[[Category:Steamships of Sweden]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Southern Ocean]]