David Mearns, the celebrated oceanographer and marine scientist, has been honoured by the King for his contributions to the discovery and recovery of historic shipwrecks. 

Mearns was named to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) six months after he played a key role as the Director of Search for the successful discovery of Quest, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final ship, located in the Labrador Sea on June 9, 2024. The death of Shackleton of a heart attack aboard Quest in 1922 was considered to be the final act of the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration.

The Order of the British Empire recognizes Mearns for his work in oceanography, marine science and as a shipwreck finder, and for his contributions to public life in the U.K. and beyond.

David Mearns met John Geiger, the Shackleton Quest Expedition Leader and CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, through their mutual friend, the Hon. Alexandra Shackleton. They renewed their acquaintance in February 2024 following a dedication ceremony for a memorial to Shackleton in Westminster Abbey. 

After a series of conversations and meetings with Geiger, Mearns agreed to join the Shackleton Quest Expedition and, together with research director Antoine Normandin, they developed a comprehensive plan to find Shackleton’s final ship as part of the 150th anniversary of the celebrated Anglo-Irish explorer’s life.

Geiger lauded Mearns for his groundbreaking work and congratulated him on becoming a member of the OBE. 

“David Mearns exemplifies the spirit of exploration and discovery,” Geiger said. “His vital role in locating Quest underscores his unparalleled expertise in deep-sea exploration and his dedication to uncovering stories that connect us with our past. This recognition is richly deserved.”

Mearns, who has discovered 29 major shipwrecks over the course of his career, described the Quest discovery as particularly meaningful. 

“It’s the ship that Shackleton died on. The opportunity to find Quest allows us to reveal a real human aspect of Shackleton and also of his men,” said Mearns. “That kind of courage and lifelong commitment to something is worth retelling. That’s why I think Quest completes the circle of his life: it allows us to tell that final chapter.”