Vertical ship marks 50 years at sea
Researchers have been showing off a 355 ft vertical ship in the Pacific Ocean, as it marks its 50th birthday.
FLIP, or Floating Instrument Platform, is owned by the US Navy, and flips from horizontal to a vertical position by pumping 700 tonnes of seawater into the 'handle' end.
Air is then pumped into the opposite end, causing it to rise up out of the sea.
Everything on board is designed to flip along with the ship, including beds, ketchup and other condiments, and even the bathroom sinks.
The design allows researchers to take acoustic measurements, and study meteorology, physical oceanography and air-sea interactions.
02 Jul 2012
- From the section Science & Environment