SEA 



SCIENCE 



The cooperative diving efforts resulted 

 in a few treasures last summer. On the last 

 day, the divers recovered a white porcelain 

 pitcher near a wooden drawer. 



"The pitcher was exposed by an oyster 

 fish," says Kesling. "The toadfish did the 

 excavation work for us." 



The divers also recovered a porcelain 

 drawer pull and a brass ring that was 

 probably attached to a signal lantern. 



The wreck site of the Monitor was 

 discovered in 1973. Two years later, the 

 Monitor site was designated the first 

 National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA began 

 the first expedition in 1977. 



The first artifact found was a brass 

 ship's lantern lying partly buried on the 

 ocean bottom near the turret. 



Over the years, NOAA has recovered 

 a number of artifacts, including condiment 

 bottles, a storage jar filled with pickle 

 relish, and an anchor. All artifacts are taken 

 to The Mariners' Museum in Newport 

 News, Va., for conservation, study and 

 exhibition. 



In 1990, NOAA discovered parts of the 

 Monitor were deteriorating because of 

 strong ocean currents. The midship 

 bulkhead had partially collapsed. The 

 propeller was unstable. Iron plates from the 

 lower hull had been displaced. 



To save the ship's major parts, NOAA 

 developed a long-range preservation plan. 



"We decided that we couldn't recover 

 all the artifacts," says John Broadwater, 

 manager of the Monitor National Marine 

 Sanctuary. "So we proposed to recover the 

 major components — propeller, engine, 

 turret and cannons." 



To help salvage some of the famous 

 shipwreck's most important parts, the Navy 

 was brought onboard in 1995. 



"It takes 16 to 24 Navy divers to put 

 two people in the water," says Broadwater. 

 "It is labor-intensive and expensive. But 

 because Navy divers have to undergo 

 training each year, the Navy's work on the 

 Monitor is not an added expense to taxpayers." 



Last summer, the Navy divers 

 recovered a section of propeller shaft and 



the skeg — the beam that supported the 

 rudder. 



While resurfacing one day, the divers 

 met a new buddy. 



"Navy divers officially adopted a 

 project mascot today: a five-foot barracuda 

 who always meets the divers at a depth of 

 1 10 feet as they are returning to the 

 surface," according to Monitor logs. 

 "He has been dubbed 'Barry Cuda.' " 



As researchers plan for the 2001 

 expedition this spring, they are targeting 

 the recovery of the engine. 



Last summer, divers were able to 

 lower a 90-ton engine recovery structure 

 over the wreck, says Broadwater. "And 

 during diving 2001, we will remove the 

 Monitor's 45-ton steam engine and lift it to 

 the surface using the recovery structure. 

 The Monitor 2001 expedition will chal- 

 lenge both the Navy and NOAA teams, but 

 we'll be ready." □ 



For more information about the Monitor, 

 visit the Web: www.monitorcenter.org 



