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A Perfect Coat

WHOI engineering assistant Ben Pietro puts the third and final coat of paint on the “sail” of Alvin, the country’s only deep-diving human occupied vehicle. When it is in position around the vehicle’s hatch, the sail will prevent waves from splashing into the sub, provide a structure on which to mount navigational equipment, and make the sub more visible when it is on the surface. Pietro worked in a special paint room equipped with ventilators designed to remove dust, hair, and other small particles that might mar the finish. Alvin is undergoing a substantial upgrade and is expected to start sea trials in a few months.(Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)