After six years of work, Norwegian researchers lifted The Maud, the ship of Arctic Explorer Roald Amundsen. The ship trapped in ice in Nunavut, North Canada, since 1930, is now prepared for a trip home to Norway.

The ship, the Maud, was launched on June 7, 1917 and served Amundsen during his 1918-20 expedition into the Northeast Passage. Afterwards, in 1925 it was sold and sunk in 1930 after being trapped in the ice near Cambridge Bay, Canada. Despite being submerged in Arctic waters for more than 80 years, the hull of the ship has maintained much of its integrity.

After six years of being studied by a team of Norwegian researchers, the ship was lifted earlier this year. Since then it was cleaned in order to remove mud and other debris from the deck and inside of the ship. The ship is now placed on a barge near the coast.

The Maud at present is drying, which is said to reduce the weight and decrease the pressure on the structure from its own waterlogged girth. The ship is scheduled for a trip home to Norway next summer.

(after CBC News)