ATLANTIS II: A New Support Ship for Alvin

R/V LULU, a small, slow, single purpose catamaran vessel, has been operating as mother ship for the research submersible ALVIN since its construction in 1965. It has covered 136,000 miles in support of 1,300 science dives, exceeding its intended life and demonstrating the need for a more capable support vessel. ATLANTIS II, a 210 ft. research ship selected as LULU´s replacement, has been refitted for submersible support. Her general oceanographic capability has been retained, so that future voyages may involve more than one mission. The new submersible handling system utilizes a stern-mounted A-frame with a single point lift. The ALVIN structural frame has been modified to permit lifting from above by a single rope.