Image

R/V Atlantis, 1931-1964

Atlantis was the first Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution research vessel and the first ship built specifically for interdisciplinary research in marine biology, marine geology and physical oceanography.  The “A-boat” made 299 cruises and covered 700,000 miles during its 33-year career. In 1966, Atlantis was sold to the country of Argentina, refurbished, and renamed El Austral. It was used as a research vessel and was crewed by Argentine naval personnel.  The Atlantis is also the name sake for the Space Shuttle Atlantis. NASA names all of its space shuttles after famous oceanographic vessels.

(Photo courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives)