U.S. Navy destroyer spotted off coast of Nanaimo

A futuristic-looking U.S. warship sparked some interest when it was spotted off the coast of Nanaimo.

USS Michael Monsoor, a U.S. navy missile destroyer, was seen traversing the Strait of Georgia Monday afternoon.

The 16,000-tonne, 610-foot-long Zumwalt-class destroyer is designed for stealth operations with a crew size of nearly 150 officers and speed in excess of 30 knots.

Its namesake is Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Iraq war in 2006.

Its sister ship, USS Zumwalt, visited CFB Esquimalt two years ago to showcase that vessel, which is the U.S. Navy’s largest destroyer.

According to the U.S. Navy, Zumwalt-class destroyers are “the most lethal and sophisticated destroyers ever built. They provide deterrence and forward presence by bridging today’s innovation with future technology.”

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