RV Atlantis II

RV Atlantis II is a research vessel formerly operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The ship was built in 1962. She was used as the support vessel for the Alvin submersible for many years, and retired from Woods Hole service in 1996. After a period of inactivity in New Orleans she was transferred to the travel adventure company Outlander Expeditions in 2006. In 1986 she was used by Dr. Robert Ballard as mother-ship to DSV Alvin when Ballard and team surveyed the RMS Titanic wreck for the first time. The Titanic expedition was sponsored by National Geographic.

History
United States
Name:	Atlantis II
Namesake:	RV Atlantis
Owner:	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Builder:	Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Baltimore, Maryland[1]
Cost:	USD$ 5m[1]
Launched:	September 8, 1962[1]
Sponsored by:	Dr. Mary Sears[1]
In service:	February 1, 1963[1]
Out of service:	July 23, 1996[1]
Identification:	IMO number: 5029752
Fate:	Sold, 1996[1]
General characteristics [2]
Length:	210 ft (64 m)
Beam:	44 ft (13 m)
Draft:	17 ft (5.2 m)
Speed:	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance:	45 days
Boats & landing craft carried:	DSV Alvin (1984-1996)
Crew:	33 + 25 scientists

The following seafloor features have been named for RV Atlantis II:

• Atlantis II Seamounts in the North Atlantic 38.38°N 62.93°W / 38.38; -62.93
• Atlantis II Fracture Zone in the Indian Ocean 32.88°S 57.01°E / -32.88; 57.01

References

1. "Retirement of Research Vessel Atlantis II Marks the End of An Era". Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. July 8, 1996. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2012-10-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)

External links

• Atlantis II returns to Woods Hole after 11 years
• Ships & Vehicles Used in 1986 Discovery of Titanic