Wikipedia calls it "open ocean research platform" which seems more appropriate, agree. But it doesn't rhyme as nicely as "Flipping FLIP ship" so I understand th

Wikipedia calls it "open ocean research platform" which seems more appropriate, agree. But it doesn't rhyme as nicely as "Flipping FLIP ship" so I understand the author took a bit of liberty in the title, at least they explain what FLIP stands for ("FLoating Instrument Platform") which makes it pretty clear if it's a ship or platform :)