Overview
- NOAA published an interactive timeline offering evolving 3D views of the ironclad from construction to its present-day reef state.
- High-resolution imagery was produced with Northrop Grumman’s micro synthetic aperture sonar mounted on an autonomous underwater vehicle.
- The scans capture the hull, interior and surrounding debris in near-photographic detail and establish a new baseline for future monitoring, NOAA said.
- The site lies about 240 feet off North Carolina’s Outer Banks and is described by NOAA as a thriving ecosystem and “island of life.”
- A sanctuary archaeologist said the wreck appears in fantastic shape, as managers continue long-term conservation with the Mariners’ Museum.