The R/V Petrel, a research vessel formerly owned by the late Paul Allen, has found new life with the US Navy. The vessel, which aided in the discovery of several famous World War II shipwrecks, including the USS Indianapolis and the Japanese carrier IJN Kaga, was purchased by the Navy in 2022 for $12.5 million.
The R/V Petrel was outfitted with state-of-the-art sensors and remotely operated vehicles, making it an ideal platform for underwater archeology and surveying underwater infrastructure.
The vessel has been rechristened the Sarah Lynn, although its mission remains unclear. The US Naval Institute first reported the rechristening in 2025.
