UK Firm Saves World’s Most Strangest Research Vessel From Scrappers

The Floating Instrument Platform, commonly known as “FLIP,” was saved from the scrapyard and is now on its way to a fresh start in France.

FLIP, which was developed for the United States Navy’s Office of Naval Research, has been an integral part of oceanographic research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for nearly 50 years.

When news surfaced that FLIP had been decommissioned and towed to Mexico for dismantling, DEEP, a UK subsea design firm, came into action.

Founder Kristen Tertoole directed her staff with a simple order: “Save her.” “Do not come back without her.” Their aim was simple, and they succeeded.

FLIP, which is 355 feet (108 meters long), was commissioned in 1962 and was officially retired in 2023.

The vessel’s unique ability to flip between vertical and horizontal configurations by partially flooding its stern made it extremely stable, allowing scientists to conduct sensitive experiments under harsh ocean conditions.

Floating Instrument Platform — Image Credits: Wikipedia

The transportation of FLIP from Mexico to France was a big difficulty. The team used a specially built lift to place the platform onto a heavy-lift vessel for the 6,000-mile journey.

It has now arrived at MB92 in La Ciotat, where a refit is expected to take between 12 and 18 months.

Experts in the field, including Dr. Tom Drake, director of the ONR Ocean Sensing Battlespace Department, applauded the move to modify FLIP.

The planned renovations will improve the platform’s capabilities in ocean science and exploration, ensuring its position at the forefront of marine research.

The modification plan calls for replacing the vessel’s old superstructure with lighter, more advanced materials, expanding personnel capacity and adding new scientific equipment.

Additionally, DEEP plans to integrate new sensors and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to enhance FLIP’s research capabilities.

The crew aims to relaunch FLIP in early 2026, beginning in a new era of ocean discoveries.

Reference: iflscience

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