This Ship Flips!

Ask, Oct 2008 by Moss, Meg

It's a topsy-turvy world onboard FLIP, a 350-foot research vessel that can stand straight up in the water. FLIP, short for Floating Instrument Platform, was invented more than 40 years ago to provide a stable laboratory for scientists working at sea.

To do its job, FLIP gets a tow to wherever scientists are studying ocean currents, storm waves, aquatic animal sounds, or nearly anything underwater. Then, the huge tanks in its back end are flooded with seawater. When the back weighs more than the front, the ship begins to tilt upright. In about 30 minutes, the bow rises five stories out of the water. As the ship flips, the crew holds on, and the bunks, appliances, even the toilet all swivel to stay upright. They anchor the ship like this so it won't roll or bob, and the 16 scientists onboard can live and work comfortably for weeks.

One-two-three-FLIP! When upright, the stern of FLIP rises five stories out of the water.