The USS Monitor, a U.S. warship, has been discovered to be in an “astonishing” condition, despite having sunk to the seabed off the coast of North Carolina since 1862.
In the latest expedition, Valor in the Atlantic, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 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 expected.
After using an ROV, or remotely operated vehicle, to investigate the site, Tane Renata Casserley, the coordinator at the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary of NOAA, stated “the wreck is in astonishing condition after being on the seabed for 160 years.”
A shark swimming near the wreck of the USS Monitor 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 Civil War Navy ship, sank off the North Carolina coast about 160 years ago. Sixteen people lost their lives after a storm caused the vessel to capsize.
The wreck of the USS Monitor was discovered in 1973. Casserley further noted that the iron hull, built to withstand the rigors of war, has created a stable habitat for marine life, making it a “island of life.” Even sharks have been spotted around the wreck.
NOAA reports that the coral species at the wreck site are teeming with life. Many believe the USS Monitor is the oldest shipwreck. It was also the first American warship constructed with a rotating turret.
