New sonar technology reveals the USS Monitor like never before
New sonar technology reveals the USS Monitor like never before
Publish Date: 2026-03-07 14:11:00
Source Domain: www.13newsnow.com
Experts unveiled high-resolution sonar scans of the USS Monitor, captured by cutting-edge underwater technology at the Mariners’ Museum and Parks.
More than 160 years after the historic clash that changed naval warfare, the USS Monitor is still revealing new details about its story.
On Saturday, experts gathered at The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News to unveil never-before-seen high-resolution sonar images of the famous Civil War ironclad. The scans were captured using advanced underwater technology that researchers say could transform the way shipwrecks are studied and preserved.
The announcement came during the museum’s annual commemoration of the Battle of Hampton Roads, the legendary Civil War battle between the Monitor and the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia.
Now, thanks to cutting-edge sonar imaging, scientists can see the shipwreck in greater detail than ever before.
A New Look Beneath the Ocean
The wreck of the USS Monitor rests roughly 240 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Poor visibility and deep water have long made it difficult for researchers to fully document the site.
In September 2025, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration partnered with engineers from Northrop Grumman and researchers from Stantec to conduct a new survey of the shipwreck.
Using an autonomous underwater vehicle, the team deployed micro synthetic aperture sonar, known as µSAS, to scan the wreck site.
The technology creates extremely detailed images of the seafloor even in dark, murky water.
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