Applying modern technology to save a historic warship: the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary

On March 9, 1862 the ironclad warships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (ex-USS Merrimack) fought to a draw at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in one of the most recognized sea battles in history. Now, 135 years later, the Monitor is fighting a losing battle against both natural and human threats. The Monitor's hull, lying in 230 ft. (71 m) of water off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, is deteriorating at an alarming rate. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for the Monitor which, in 1975, was designated America's first National Marine Sanctuary. As a result, NOAA is aggressively applying comprehensive planning strategy and ocean technology to the problem of protecting the Monitor.