The USS Monitor, a U.S. warship, has been discovered to be in “remarkably” good condition, despite having sunk to the ocean floor off the coast of North Carolina since 1862.
During the latest expedition, Valor in the Atlantic, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Marine Sanctuaries collaborated with the Ocean Exploration Trust to investigate the wreck, according to Newsweek.
The research team was surprised to find that the ship is in much better condition than previously anticipated.
After utilizing a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to survey the site, Tane Renata Casserley, a coordinator at NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, stated, “the wreck is in an incredible state, after being on the ocean floor for 160 years.”
A shark swimming near the USS Monitor wreck in May. (Photo: AP).
According to her, the ship has withstood all environmental conditions off Cape Hatteras, including strong currents and storms.
As reported by Newsweek, the USS Monitor, a Union Navy warship from the Civil War era, sank off the coast of North Carolina about 160 years ago. Sixteen crew members lost their lives after a storm caused the ship to capsize.
The wreck of the USS Monitor was discovered in 1973. Ms. Casserley added that the iron hull, designed to withstand the rigors of warfare, has provided a stable habitat for marine life, making it a “island of life.” Even sharks can be seen around this wreck.
NOAA reported that the coral species at the wreck site are teeming with life. Many consider the USS Monitor to be the oldest shipwreck. It is also noted as the first American warship built with a rotating turret.
