Oil tankers, cargo ships, and cruise ships are some of the biggest ships in the world. These huge machines are engineering marvels that help move a huge amount of goods and people around the world.
Who Says That Size Isn’t Important?
When you see one of these supertankers up close, you can see how important the manufacturing and design techniques that went into making it. Huge engines are needed to move these huge machines. Some are powered by diesel, some by nuclear, some by wind, and some even by the sun.
Ships come in different sizes that are good for different tasks. Some naval ships need big diesel engines to move containers over long distances, while others have nuclear propulsion systems so they can stay at sea for months at a time. But the engineering behind these machines is pretty amazing, no matter how they move.
But these boats are not very good for the environment. Sources like the European Commission say that shipping is responsible for about 3% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions. Because of this, more and more ships are getting hybrid systems and engines that use less fuel.
Here is a list of some of the biggest ships that have ever been built.
1. The Knock Nevis is One of the Biggest Ships in the World
The Knock Nevis, an oil tanker, was one of the longest and heaviest ships ever made. The Knock Nevis, which used to be called Mont, was a ULCC supertanker that was taken out of service in 2009.
The Knock Nevis was the biggest moving thing that people had made. The ship was longer from the back to the front than the Empire State Building is tall. The ship was 1,504 feet (458.45 metres) long and weighed a whopping 260,941 gross tonnes (GT) (214,793 NT).
Japan’s Sumitomo Heavy Industries built the first Knock Nevis in 1979. During the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, the ship was severely damaged and sunk in the Strait of Hormuz. It was later found, fixed, and put back into service under the name Happy Giant.
She was later bought by a Norwegian named Jorgen Jahre in 1991. He changed her name to Years Viking and used her for 13 years. In the end, First Olsen Tankers bought her and changed her name to the Knock Nevis.
The ship had 35 crew members and a cruising speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). It was powered by a single 30 ft (9 mt) propeller. From cruising speed to a stop, the Nevis needed 5.5 miles (9 km) and had a turning circle of 3 km (2 miles).
2. Ti Class Supertankers Are Very Large Ships
The TI Class supertankers are some of the largest oil tankers that are still in use. The TI Africa, TI Asia, TI Europe, and TI Oceania make up the fleet of the Tankers International L.L.C.
In 2003, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in Okpo, South Korea, built these mega tankers for the company Hellespont.
Knock Nevis is 78 metres (256 feet) longer than the TI range, which is “only” 380 metres (1,247 feet) long. The TI range can cruise at 16.5 knots (30.5 km/h; 18.9 mph) while fully loaded and has a tonnage of 234,006 GT (162,477 NT).
The TI ships used to be called the Hellespont Alhambra, Hellespont Fairfax, Hellespont Metropolis, and Hellespont Tara. In 2004, the Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) and Euronav NV, a Belgian shipowner, bought them and gave them new names.
In 2010, the TI Asia and TI Africa were changed into FSO oil storage ships. TI Europe and TI Oceania, on the other hand, are still running as ULCCs.
3. Q-max Ships Are Also Some of the World’s Largest
The Q-Max ships are the largest membrane-type ships that carry liquefied natural gas in the world. They weigh 162,400 gross tonnes (GT) and are 1,132 feet (345 mt) long. The Q-max ships can hold 9,393,701 cubic feet (266,000 cubic metres) of cargo and can move at a speed of 19.5 knots (36,114 km/h; 22.4 mph).
There are 14 Q-Max ships in use, and their names are Al Mayeda, Al Magyar, Umm Salal, Bu Samra, Al-Ghuwairiya, Lijmiliya, Al Samriya, Al Dafna, Mozah, Mekaines, Shagra, Zarga, Aamira, and Rasheeda. The ships were made by Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.
The first ship Mozah was finished in 2007, and the ceremony to give it its name took place at the South Korean shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries. All of the Q-Max ships are run by the Qatari company Nakilat, which moves gas. The “Max” in their name comes from the fact that the Q-Max ships are the biggest ones that can dock at Qatar’s LNG terminals.
4. The CSCL Globe is Another One of the World’s Biggest Ships
In November 2014, a ceremony was held to give the CSCL Globe its name. At the time, it was the largest container ship in the world. China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) placed an order for five 19,000 TEU container ships in 2013. The CSCL Globe was the first of these ships.
The CSCL Globe was bought from Hyundai Heavy Industries and was going to be used on the trade route between Asia and Europe. The mega-ship is 400 m (1,312 ft) long and weighs 187,500 GT (gross tonnes).
The CSCL Globe is powered by the main engine with 77,200 BHP and electronic control. This engine is said to be more efficient than those on other 10,000 TEU container ships. Because of the feedback, it gets from the sea, the engine uses 20 per cent less fuel per TEU. In 2011, Maersk gave Daewoo Shipbuilding two contracts for 20 Maersk Triple E Class container ships. Each ship was worth about US$200 million.
The CSCL Globe is a little bit bigger than the Maersk Triple E Class container ship. The Triple E Class can carry 18,000 TEU, while the Globe can carry 19,000 TEU. The Maersk Triple E Class is about the same length and can cruise at 26 mph (42 km/h; 23 knots).
The ships are made with three design principles in mind: economy of scale, energy efficiency, and improving the environment. At the moment, the Maersk ships are the most efficient container ships on the market.
5. The Oasis of the Seas is One of the Largest Ships in the World
The Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas, which used to be called “Project Genesis,” are the three largest passenger ships or cruise ships in the world. They were built for the Royal Caribbean company and given to them in 2009, 2010, and 2016.
Symphony of the Seas, the fourth ship, was finished in March 2018. As of April 2019, the Wonder of the Seas, the fifth ship in the Oasis-class, was being built. A sixth ship, which has not yet been named, has also been ordered.
The cruise ships are 1,181 feet (360 metres) long, and they can hold up to 6,296 passengers and 2,394 crew members. With a gross tonnage of 225,282 GT and a speed of 22.6 knots (41.9 km/h or 26.0 mph), these ships are the fastest in our big league.
There are enough fun things to do on cruise ships to keep families busy for weeks at a time. Some of the ships have two FlowRider surf simulators, a zip line that is 82 feet (25 metres) long and nine decks high, an ice-skating rink, two rock-climbing walls that are 43 feet (13 metres) high, swimming pools, a full-sized basketball court, and even a water park.
It is thought that the Oasis of the Seas cost about €900 million ($1.24 billion), making it the most expensive commercial ship ever made.
The Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas both offer seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. It is an amazing experience to be a passenger on one of these giant ships. Why wouldn’t people like it?
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