RV Atlantis (AGOR-25)

For other ships with the same name, see List of ships named Atlantis.

RV Atlantis is a Thomas G. Thompson-class oceanographic research ship, owned by the US Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet.^[1] She is the host vessel of DSV Alvin.^[2] She is named for the first research vessel operated by WHOI, the sailboat RV Atlantis, for which the Space Shuttle Atlantis is also named.

History
United States
Name	Atlantis
Owner	Leased to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Builder	Halter Marine Inc., Gulfport, Mississippi
Laid down	16 August 1994
Launched	1 February 1996
Acquired	By the U.S. Navy, 25 February 1998, as RV Atlantis (AGOR-25)
In service	February 1998 by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution under charter for the Office of Naval Research
Refit	In 1997, as a support ship for the U.S. Navy Deep Submergence Vehicle Alvin
Identification	IMO number: 9105798 MMSI number: 367241000 Callsign: KAQP
Notes	In service
General characteristics
Type	Thomas G. Thompson-class oceanographic research ship
Tonnage	3,180 gt; 1,332 dwt
Length	273.2 ft. 9  in. (83.2 m)
Beam	52.5 ft. (16 m)
Draft	19 feet (5.8 m)
Installed power	Diesel Generators: Three 1500 kW, Three 715 kW 600 VAC.
Propulsion	Diesel-electric, azimuthing stern thrusters - 3000 HP per thruster, Bow Thruster: Azimuthing jet 1,180 SHP
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h)
Range	17,280 NM
Endurance	60 days
Boats & landing craft carried	Two rigid-hull inflatable rescue/work boats
Capacity	Fuel Capacity: 267,540 US gallons (1,012,700 L)
Complement	22 Civilian Mariners; 24 Scientists; 12 Deep Submergence Operations Group (Alvin); 2 SSSG Techs.
Sensors & processing systems	As installed on Atlantis, the SeaBeam 2100/12 system consists of underhull projectors and diver-replaceable hydrophones, a single 19" electronics rack, an operator's workstation and peripherals.

Construction

RV Atlantis docked in Gulfport, Mississippi on a foggy winter day in 2020

Atlantis was built by Halter Marine Inc., Gulfport, Mississippi.^[3] She was laid down in August 1994 and launched in February 1996.^[4] She was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 25 February 1998, as RV Atlantis (AGOR-25) a Thomas G. Thompson-class oceanographic research ship.

Atlantis completed a year long midlife maintenance and refit at Dakota Creek Shipyard in July 2021.^[5]

Deck equipment

• Winches
  • Traction – 30,000' .68" EM or 9/16" wire
  • Hydro – 33,000' 3-cond. EM or 1/4" wire
• Heavy Equipment
  • Cranes – two @ 42,000 lbs. cap
  • HIAB cranes (2)
  • Midships hydro boom

Miscellaneous on-board equipment

• Laboratories: 3,517 square feet (326.7 m²)
• Portable Van Space: At least six 20 ft (6.1 m). vans
• Sewage System: Envirovac flushing system

Sister ships

The Atlantis and three other research ships were all built to the same basic design. The three sister ships are RV Thomas G. Thompson (UW), RV Roger Revelle (Scripps) and NOAAS Ronald H. Brown (NOAA).

Notable expeditions and events

In 2022, Atlantis was involved in the rescue of 13 people off the coast of North Carolina.^[6] The fishing vessel Tremont sent a mayday at 0200 on October 28 following the collision with the container ship MSC Rita.^[7] Atlantis as well as the motor vessel Drystan and assistance from the United States Coast Guard rescued the crew later that morning.