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. She is the host vessel of DSV Alvin. She is named for the first research vessel operated by WHOI, the sailboat RV Atlantis, for which the is also named.

Construction

Atlantis was built by Halter Marine Inc., Gulfport, Mississippi. She was laid down in August 1994 and launched in February 1996. 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.

Deck equipment

Miscellaneous on-board equipment

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. The fishing vessel Tremont sent a mayday at 0200 on October 28 following the collision with the container ship MSC Rita. Atlantis as well as the motor vessel Drystan and assistance from the United States Coast Guard rescued the crew later that morning.