News
A remarkable hand-crafted scale model of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary polar ship, was officially unveiled at a special event at The Jetty Visitor Centre in Stanley on Thursday 15 January 2026.
Hosted by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT) in partnership with the Falkland Islands Tourist Board, the evening marked the arrival of a new long-term addition to the Visitor Centre: a finely detailed 1:52 scale model of Endurance that has travelled from war-torn Ukraine to the Falklands aboard the British Antarctic Survey’s RRS Sir David Attenborough.
The unveiling event offered guests the chance to see the model up close for the first time, hear from Trustees of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, meet the Trust’s new Chief Operating Officer and learn more about FMHT’s work and future plans.
From Ukraine to the Falklands
The Endurance model was crafted in Dnipro, Ukraine, by retired engineer and former rocket specialist Vitaliy Vrubel, as conflict unfolded around him. Built during nightly air-raid sirens, power cuts and bombardment, the model was inspired by Shackleton’s story of courage, resilience and perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Originally commissioned by the Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Cornwall, the model was acquired by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust following the museum’s closure, ensuring it would remain in the public domain and continue to inspire future generations.
After arriving safely in the UK, the model was transferred into FMHT’s care and transported to Harwich, where it joined the British Antarctic Survey’s flagship research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough, for its journey south. In a fitting tribute to Shackleton’s expedition, the model travelled into Antarctic waters before continuing to the Falkland Islands.
A new public home in Stanley
The model will be displayed on loan to the Falkland Islands Tourist Board at The Jetty Visitor Centre, where it will be enjoyed by thousands of residents and visitors each year.
Elena Lewendon, Chief Operating Officer of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, said:
“This remarkable model has already lived a story of endurance worthy of its name. Crafted under the most challenging conditions and carried across continents and seas, it now arrives in the Falklands, a place forever connected to Shackleton’s story. We are delighted to keep this model in the public domain and to share it with islanders and visitors alike.”
The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust said it was proud to work in partnership with the Falkland Islands Tourist Board to ensure the model is accessible to the public and continues to spark curiosity about polar history, maritime heritage and the human stories behind exploration.
Stephanie Middleton, Executive Director of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board, said:
“We are proud to welcome this extraordinary model to The Jetty Visitor Centre. It is a wonderful addition to the maritime stories we are so proud to share with our visitors.”
FMHT extends its thanks to all those involved in the model’s creation and journey, including Vitaliy Vrubel and his family, the Shipwreck Treasure Museum team, the British Antarctic Survey and the crew of the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
