Wrecks Of HMS Erebus And HMS Terror National Historic Site

The Wrecks of HMS ''Erebus'' and HMS ''Terror'' National Historic Site is a National Historic Site of Canada near King William Island in the northern Nunavut territory. It protects the wrecks of and , the two ships of the last expedition of Sir John Franklin, lost in the 1840s during their search for the Northwest Passage and then re-discovered in 2014 and 2016. The site is jointly managed by Parks Canada and the local Inuit. Public access to the site is not permitted.

History

On 7 September 2014 the wreck of HMS ''Erebus'' was discovered by the Canadian Victoria Strait expedition in Wilmot and Crampton Bay, to the west of the Adelaide Peninsula just to the south of King William Island, in of water. On 12 September 2016, the wreck of HMS ''Terror'' was discovered by the Arctic Research Foundation in Terror Bay, off the southwest coast of King William Island at a depth of .

Geography

The site consists of two separate areas, one enclosing each wreck, with perimeter coordinates:

* wreck of ''Erebus'' in Wilmot and Crampton Bay: , , ,
* wreck of ''Terror'' in Terror Bay: , , ,

Archeology

As of 2019, the wrecks are the subject of archeological research undertaken by Parks Canada. Researchers are using the , a scientific and research vessel, as living accommodation; and a barge "Qiniqtiryuaq" to support the diving down to the wrecks. Parks Canada is also handling the documentation and conservation of artefacts removed from the wrecks.

Ownership

Under international maritime law, as Royal Navy ships, the wrecked ships are the property of the United Kingdom. However, in 1997 before either wreck was discovered but in the belief that the wrecks must be within Canadian waters, the United Kingdom had entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Canada, that Canada could own the wrecks. In 1999, Canada created the new territory of Nunavut as part of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement with the Inuit. Part of that agreement gave the Inuit the ownership of archaeological sites and artifacts within Nunavut's boundaries.

After the wrecks were discovered, there was greater need to clarify all parties' rights in relation to the wrecks. In April 2019, the United Kingdom and Canada formally agreed that the original 65 artefacts removed from the wrecks would belong to the United Kingdom, but that the wrecks themselves and further artefacts removed would belong to Canada and the Inuit Heritage Trust with the exception of gold which would belong to the United Kingdom and any human remains would be repatriated to the United Kingdom. In return Canada would not seek payment from the United Kingdom for their costs incurred in discovering the wrecks and in removing and conserving the artefacts. In relation to the Inuit rights, the Canadian Government (represented by Parks Canada) and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association are currently negotiating an agreement that will establish a visitor centre at Gjoa Haven as an extension of the existing Nattilik Heritage Centre.

Public access

Public access to the site is not allowed with the exception of Inuit, who are permitted to hunt and fish within the protected area. To protect the site from the public, Inuit from Gjoa Haven work as guardians, camping near the wreck sites to monitor access to the sites.

However, on 5 September 2019, passengers of Adventure Canada on were permitted to visit the site of the wreck of HMS ''Erebus'' as part of a trial by Parks Canada in creating a visitor experience for the wreck site.

References

{{NHSC

National Historic Sites in Nunavut
Franklin's lost expedition