It’s 240 feet wide, 360 feet long, and holds over twelve million gallon of water. This is the MASK, the maneuvering and seakeeping basin at the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Carderock.
source/image: Department of Defense
It’s one of the largest indoor oceans in the world, making the MASK the most advanced test facility of its kind.Engineers are able to create specific wave types from all different weather conditions.
So why does the Navy need an indoor ocean? The truth lies in these dimly-lit, somewhat mysterious waters.This technology provides the Navy with an unprecedented capability to create a realistic ocean environment inside of the facility.
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Thanks to the realistic conditions created by the wave generator, vessels can be tested to see how they handle the stresses of being on the ocean and help keep future sailors safe.
