Vertical Research Ship Celebrates 50 Years in Pacific

Researchers have been celebrating the 50-year mark of their 355-foot vertical research ship as it stands tall in the Pacific.

The U.S. Navy owns the Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP) – a fitting name for a vessel that flips from horizontal to a vertical position. It does this by pumping 700 tons of seawater to the handle end, according to a BBC News report. Air is then thrust into the opposite end, causing it to rise up out of the ocean.

Everything onboard is uniquely designed to move and flip with the ship, including beds, condiments, and the bathroom sinks.

The design allows researchers to take acoustic measurements, and study meteorology, physical oceanography and air-sea interactions.