Alvin (DSV-2) to Start Last Refit

Cross posted by Lubber's Line at "Hunderds of Fathoms".

The Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Alvin is scheduled to start a 6 month refit at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in mid October. This 40 year old sub may be undergoing it's last refit with the new deeper diving $21.6 million Alvin II scheduled to be built and delivered by 2008.

Alvin routinely undergoes a refit about every 3 years where it is completely disassembled down to the (1.9 in.) thick titanium personnel sphere. The DSV recently returned on 10/13 to Woods Hole, MA aboard it's support vessel R/V Atlantis from the Pacific.

Alvin Submerged (Source: NOAA)

If your interested to learn more about Alvin's 40 year history I have additional information over on my site at this post. - LL

posted by Lubber's Line @ 12:21 AM