Watch a research ship pivot out of the water
The US Navy celebrated a research ship’s 50th year of service by flipping the bow of the ship out of the water.
The RP FLIP (Floating Instrument Platform) can be partially flooded and pitched backwards 90 degrees to act like a stable buoy, allowing researchers to study under water.
The Navy has used the RP FLIP for ocean research since she was built in 1962 and the ship is still in action today.
“It’s in good material condition,” said Tim Schnoor, who oversees the Office of Naval Research’s research vessel programmes. “We’ve continued to invest in maintenance and preservation of the platform, including taking hull thickness measurements to ensure hull integrity.”
“There’s no reason it can’t continue to serve research needs as long as we have users to exploit her unique capabilities.”