Most ships fight the ocean’s waves—FLIP embraced them. Built in 1962 by the U.S. Navy and Scripps Institution

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Most ships fight the ocean’s waves—FLIP embraced them. Built in 1962 by the U.S. Navy and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, FLIP (Floating Instrument Platform) was a 355-foot-long vessel that didn’t sail but instead flipped vertically, submerging most of its body to remain perfectly stable in rough seas. This unique design allowed researchers to conduct ultra-precise studies of sound propagation, wave patterns, and deep-ocean physics—critical for both scientific exploration and submarine technology.

After six decades of service and countless missions across the Pacific, FLIP was retired in 2023. But just as its future looked bleak, UK-based marine tech company DEEP acquired it in 2024 with plans to upgrade and revive the legendary platform. With a new mission ahead, FLIP may once again lead humanity’s quest to understand the mysteries of the deep—this time with cutting-edge tools and a new generation of explorers aboard.

,OceanScience ,EngineeringMarvel ,FLIPship ,OceanResearch ,NavalInnovation ,MarineEngineering

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