14 DAY TRIAL // Over the past three years, deep ocean research in the United States was substantially impaired by the absence of Alvin, the country's deepest-diving research submarine. Now that the submersible has finally completed its three-year revision, overhaul and upgrade, it is ready to get back to work.
Alvin is owned by the US Navy, but is operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), in Massachusetts, for a consortium of universities and research groups throughout the country. The submarine was first used in 1964, so 2014 marks its 50th anniversary.
Following this major overhaul, which started back in December 2010, Alvin is now able to safely dive up to 3,800 meters (12,470 feet) below sea levels, but further certifications may enable it to descend as low as 4,500 meters (14,800 feet) under the surface. This is largely due to the new personnel sphere the submersible received.
“There has been tremendous coordination between the Navy, WHOI and the National Science Foundation to ensure Alvin's safety and integrity. Alvin is a national asset and the Navy is pleased to be a part of the team that returned the vehicle to service,” says the Director of Advanced Undersea Integration at the US Navy, Don Hoffer.