Researchers are preparing to explore a shipwreck off the North Carolina coast and the public is invited to join them virtually. Beginning May 15th, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists and partnering agencies will embark on a two-week mission to study the USS Monitor, the U.S. Navy’s first ironclad warship. The vessel sunk in 1862 during a storm off the coast of Cape Hatteras. Researchers will also collect information on natural reefs and the maritime cultural landscape using remotely piloted submersibles. According to a release from NOAA, this is the first in-depth survey of the USS Monitor since the recovery of the vessel’s gun turret in 2002. The mission will run through May 25th and be live-streamed online.
Researchers live streaming exploration of historic shipwreck off NC coast
![The bow of the iconic Civil War ironclad Monitor resting on the seafloor off North Carolina.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fce6fa8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x400+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F10%2F50901a944522947cf17f061d84a5%2Fblobid0-1652277108036.jpg)
Joe Poe, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary advisory council
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NOAA