The biggest ships in the world are colossal engineering structures that plough the waters and embody the power, progress and ambition of man. A ship is a floating vehicle designed to carry people, cargo or special tasks. Biggest ships are vessels that surpass their counterparts in one or more key parameters: length, displacement, cargo capacity. When compiling the top 5 biggest ships of the world, the length criterion is traditionally used. After all, it is the length that clearly demonstrates the grandiosity of the ship and allows you to determine its place among the most impressive sea giants. 1. Seawise Giant Knock Nevis, Length 458.45 m (1,504.10 ft) The Knock Nevis, a supertanker, holds the honourable first place among the world’s biggest ships. Knock Nevis, formerly named Seawise Giant, is not just a ship, but a true legend that has left an indelible mark in the history of shipbuilding. This giant is 458 metres and 45 centimetres long. Designed to carry oil, Knock Nevis was for many years recognised as the biggest ship in the world. From its launch in 1979 until its decommissioning in 2009, it represented a key element of the world’s supertanker fleet. Its impressive cargo capacity was capable of transporting some 4.1 million barrels of oil, making it indispensable in the international commodity trade. Interesting facts about Knock Nevis: Multiple name changes: The ship changed its name six times in its long history. Use as a Floating Storage Unit: Towards the end of its career, the Knock Nevis was not used to transport oil, but as a FSO (Floating Storage and Offloading unit) off Qatar, which allowed it to remain in service even after the end of active voyages. Dismantling and recycling: After almost 30 years of service, the ship was decommissioned in 2009 and sent for recycling. This process took several years, given the ship’s enormous size and the amount of materials to be recycled. Cultural impact: Due to its record size and interesting history, Knock Nevis has become a cultural icon. It is often mentioned in maritime literature and documentaries about giant ships and sailing (e.g. the BBC series Jeremy Clarkson’s Extreme Machines while sailing as Jare Viking). 2. Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, Length 399 m (1,309 ft 1 in) Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller is a Triple-E class container ship, proud to be the second largest ship in the world. It is more than just a ship – it is a true work of engineering that epitomises progress in shipbuilding and container shipping. Launched in 2013, it immediately created a sensation by becoming the longest and biggest container ship in operation. Its length is 399 metres. Interesting facts about Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller: Named in honour of a legend: The vessel is named in honour of Maersk CEO Mc-Kinney Moller. Pioneer of the Triple-E series: Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller was the first ship in the Triple-E (Economy of scale, Energy efficiency, Environmentally improved) series developed by Maersk Line. This ship was designed to maximise carbon footprint reduction and economic efficiency. Vale Brasil, Length 362.01 m (1,187.7 ft) The bronze medallist among the maritime giants is Vale Brasil, real name MS Ore Brasil. The world’s largest bulk carrier for the transport of iron ore from Brazil to Asia. Launched in 2011, this ore carrier can justifiably be proud of its impressive length of 362 metres. Interesting facts about Vale Brasil: Cargo capacity: The Vale Brasil’s cargo capacity is equivalent to the contents of approximately 1,150 lorries. Environmental Giant: Despite its size, the ship has low emissions per tonne-mile of cargo. Ore Brasil received the Clean Ship of the Year 2011 award. Record-breaker: The ship is capable of carrying 397683 tonnes of iron ore in a single voyage. This amount is enough to build more than three Golden Gate Bridges in San Francisco out of steel. Allure of the Seas, Length 362 m (1,187 ft) The Allure of the Seas is a masterpiece of shipbuilding, ranked 4th among the biggest ships in the world. It is a floating city created for unforgettable holidays, accommodating up to 6780 passengers and 2200 crew members. The ship is 362 metres long. This ship is known for its luxurious accommodations, diverse entertainment and on-board amenities. The cruise ship made its maiden voyage in December 2010. Interesting facts about Allure of the Seas: Ice skating rink: There is a real ice skating rink on board the liner. Titanic weight: The ship’s steel hull weighs around 54,000 tonnes. Green Oasis: The ship has a park of real trees, exotic live plants and shrubs. USS Enterprise, Length 342 m (1,123 ft) The legendary aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65) is the fifth largest ship in the world. Its length is 342 metres, making it the longest military vessel. Commissioned in 1961, it served for more than 50 years, becoming a symbol of the power and technological superiority of the U.S. Navy. Interesting facts about the USS Enterprise: Pioneer of the nuclear age: Became the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Impressive air group: The ship could carry up to 90 aircraft and helicopters of various types. Unique autonomy: Worked on a single load of nuclear fuel for 13 years, travelling up to 1 million miles. Significant cost: Cost $451 million to build. The world of shipbuilding amazes with its grandiose creations and the largest ships are a vivid evidence of it. Five outstanding ships were described in the article: Knock Nevis, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, Vale Brasil, Allure of the Seas, USS Enterprise. Which ship struck you the most? Share your opinion in the comments. Worth noting: This list is based on the length of the ships. There are other criteria for judging the greatness of ships, such as displacement or cargo capacity. The information about each ship is based on the English-language version of Wikipedia. Reflections on the future of shipbuilding Shipbuilding continues to evolve and we can expect even larger and more powerful ships in the future. Advances in technology and material science are opening up new opportunities to build ships that can carry more cargo, be more environmentally friendly and efficient. Will engineers be able to create even larger ships? What new technologies will be used to build them? What tasks will these ships perform? The answers to these questions are still unknown, but one thing is certain: the future of shipbuilding will be driven by innovation and ambitious projects.
