Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

The Ship

Distant view of the Scotia in ice

The Scotia was the former Norwegian whaler Hekla, acquired by William S Bruce and converted for use as the exploration ship on the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, organised and led by Bruce himself.

The picture shows her in ice at her winter quarters in Scotia Bay on the south side of Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands.

The ship had been designed for precisely this type of situation, and was fitted with enormous beams and reinforced sides up to 63cm (25 inches) thick amidships. The pressure of the ice would eventually lift the ship on to the surface rather than crushing it.