Submersible Alvin at Woods Hole. Port-side view of the submersible Alvin (DSV-2) at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA, on 5 June 1964, prior to being placed in service. This 16-ton submersible is used for deep-sea research. It is owned by the US Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. It was fitted with a newer titanium pressure hull in 1973, with further overhauls replacing much of the original vessel, though it still operates under the same name. During its career, it has been used for many expeditions, including the discovery of black smokers on the seabed around the Galapagos Islands in 1977, and exploring RMS Titanic in 1986.