This design allows researchers to measure sound, study meteorology, ocean physics, and air-sea interactions.
The FLIP vessel is 108 meters long, featuring living quarters at the front and a long hollow hull at the back. When the bow is filled with air, the vessel floats horizontally. However, when about 700 tons of seawater are pumped into the “tail,” the bow gradually rises and emerges vertically from the water.
When upright, the seawater taken from the deep ocean prevents rolling and keeps the FLIP stable, unaffected by surface waves.
This design enables researchers to measure sound, study meteorology, ocean physics, and air-sea interactions.
Once the research mission is complete, compressed air is pumped in to expel the seawater, allowing the vessel to return to a horizontal position for movement to a new research site. The entire flipping process takes 28 minutes.
During the flipping process, everyone must stand outside on the deck. As the FLIP rotates, the deck becomes a wall, and vice versa, with most rooms having two doors to accommodate both states of the vessel.
