NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- On Thursday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commissioned their newest ship. It's called the Ewell. It's replacing two ships, including one that was built in the 1950s.
"The primary mission of this vessel is survey. It's surveying the Federal Channels and encompasses 100 square miles from the Norfolk district," said Captain Stephen Feldhaus
Using sonar the ship detects the depth of the channel.
"Our shipping channels are basically the roadways of the water," said Dusty Brooke. He analyzes the depth and compares it to what the standards say it should be.
The ship removes debris above and below the surface. If items are too large, they can call in help from divers or salvage companies.