The largest ships in the world: list, names, photos. The largest ships in the world The largest ship: characteristics

Tankers are vessels designed to transport oil from production sites to oil refineries. Increasing needs and the desire to get maximum profit have led to the creation of supertankers, striking in their size and being the largest ships in the world.

They are also called tankers, emphasizing their purpose (for the delivery of liquid cargo: oil, gas, wine, oil, acids, and so on). This article will focus on the largest oil tankers in the world.

How tankers work

The body of these giants consists of a rigid frame, divided by longitudinal partitions into “tanks” (compartments filled with oil).

Modern supertankers have a double-hull structure, that is, they have an outer extremely strong hull that absorbs the impact of a possible collision, and an inner hull that is responsible for transporting dangerous cargo. These vessels received such a transformation in 1990 after a series of environmental disasters associated with the crash of the supertankers "Torey Canyon" (1967), "Amoco Cadiz" (1978), "Exxon Valdez" (1989), when thousands of gallons of oil spilled into the sea, causing irreparable damage to the ecosystems of Great Britain, France and Alaska.

Single and double hull oil tankers

Giant single-hull oil carriers include:

  • "Crimea".
  • "Torrey Canyon".
  • Exxon Valdis.
  • Amoco Haven and Amoco Cadiz.
  • Idemitsu Maru.
  • Esso Atlantic.
  • Batillus.
  • Knock Nevis.

They have a double-hull structure (selection from the top 10):

  • Sirius Star.
  • Hellespont Fairfax.

How oil ships work

Loading of “black gold” is carried out by powerful pumps located in special pumping stations equipped with ports. In order to unload the tanker, pumps are also installed on it and a special pipeline system is created, which has blocking and valves.

When the ship is loaded, the density of the oil is high, and the air temperature outside is quite low, the oil begins to be heated to reduce its viscosity and, therefore, facilitate pumping. Heating is carried out using water vapor, which flows through pipelines running directly in the tanks (compartments with oil). That is why tankers are equipped with steam boilers with enormous productivity.

Each time after raw materials are pumped out of the vessel, the tanks are thoroughly cleaned and degassed to prevent the ignition of vapors released from the cargo residues.

Characteristics

All oil carriers included in the group of supertankers have similar properties:

  • Big sizes. As a rule, the length and width of these vessels are very large. Thus, the largest tanker in the world, whose dimensions are truly enormous, had a length close to 500 meters and a width of about 70 m.
  • High draft when transporting cargo (For example, the Sirius Star draft when loading is 22 m).
  • Huge displacement (for example, Hellespont Fairfax has a displacement of 234 thousand tons).
  • Fairly high speed for ships of this size. On average 13-17 knots.
  • Highest carrying capacity (Exxon Valdis transported 235 thousand tons of oil).
  • Huge deadweight (total weight, which includes the weight of cargo, necessary fuel, equipment, etc.). For example, the deadweight of Batillus is almost 554 thousand tons.
  • The crew size is 30-40 people.

The largest tankers in the world. Top 10

10. Supertanker "Crimea" is the largest tanker of the USSR and modern Russia. Built at the Kerch Shipyard. Launched in 1974. In 1989 it was sold to Vietnam under the name Chi Linh. Length - 295 m, width - 44.95 m, deadweight - 150,500 tons.

9. "Torey Canyon" - manufactured in the USA, this tanker crashed in 1967 on its way to England. The length of the tanker is 296.8 m.

8. "Exxon Valdis" - was built in 1985. in San Diego (California). In 1989, it crashed off the coast of Alaska, resulting in the release of 700 thousand barrels of oil. After eliminating the consequences, it was towed to the shores of San Diego and put back into service. In 2012, the tanker was scrapped in Singapore. Length - 300 m, width - 51 m, deadweight - 209,836 tons.

7. Sirius Star - was manufactured in 2008 in Geoje (South Korea). Captured by Somali pirates in November 2008. Released in 2009. The length of the tanker is 332 m, width is 58 m.

6. MT-Haven (Amoco Milford Haven) - launched in 1973 in Cadiz (Spain). Transported oil from the Middle East to ports on the Mediterranean Sea. Sank in 1991 near Genoa (Italy) as a result of a missile hit during the conflict between Iran and Iraq. Now it is one of the most visited wrecks by divers. Length - 334 m, width - 51 m, deadweight - 233,690 tons.

Amoco Cadiz is a sister tanker to MT-Haven. Amoco Cadiz began its voyage in 1975 from Cadiz (Italy). And in 1978, as a result of running aground, it broke into three parts and sank off the coast of France. The death of the ship led to one of the largest environmental disasters. About 200,000 tons of oil spilled into the sea. The length of the tanker is 334 m, width - 51 m, deadweight - 233,690 tons.

5. Idemitsu Maru - built in 1966 in Yokohama (Japan). Transported oil from the Persian Gulf to the shores of Japan. Decommissioned in 1980. Currently completely dismantled. Length - 344 m, width - 49.84 m, deadweight (absolute load capacity) - 209,413 tons.

4. Hellespont Fairfax - created in South Korea in 2002. Transports oil from Saudi Arabia to Houston. Length - 380 m, width - 68 m.

3. Esso Atlantic is the brainchild of Japanese shipbuilding masters. It was launched in 1977. Under the flag of Liberia, it transported oil from the Middle East to Western Europe. In 2002 it was disposed of in Pakistan. Length - 406.5 m, deadweight - 516,891 tons.

2. Batillus - launched in France in 1976. Transported oil from the Persian Gulf to Northern Europe. Decommissioned and completely dismantled in Taiwan in 1985. Length - 414.22 m, width - 63 m, deadweight - 553,662 tons.

1. Knock Nevis is the largest oil tanker in the world. Was built in 1976 in Japan. Let's pay a little more attention to the leader.

Knock Nevis. Giant's story

The largest oil tanker in the world began its journey in 1976 in Japan, and was then transferred to the ownership of a Greek tycoon. Initially, the dimensions of the vessel were as follows: length - 376.7 m, width - 68.9 m, and deadweight - 418,610 tons. It was propelled by a huge steam turbine with a capacity of 50 thousand horsepower, and a speed of 16 knots was provided by an incredibly large propeller with four blades. During factory tests, strong vibration of the hull was detected, which became the reason for the refusal of the Greek owners to accept the vessel. In 1976, the largest tanker in the world was transferred to SHI, where it was given the name Oppama.

After this, the tanker came into the possession of a Hong Kong shipowner, and large-scale processing of the vessel began. In 1981, the giant received the name Seawise Giant, now its length has increased to 485 m, its width to 68.86 m, and its deadweight is 564,763 tons.

The largest tanker in the world was supposed to transport oil from the Middle East to US ports. In 1986, during the conflict between Iran and Iraq, the ship was damaged by an anti-ship missile and was officially considered sunk.

In 1988, the Norwegian company Norman bought, raised and restored the ship, giving it the name Happy Giant.

In 1991, the tanker again changed its name and owner. It became known as Gehre Viking and was owned by the Norwegian company Loki Stream AS.

Due to its structure (the tanker was single-hulled), the ship could not enter the ports of Europe and the USA (in accordance with the law on double-hulled ships), and therefore in 2004 it changed owners again, was named Knock Nevis and was converted into an oil storage facility off the coast of Qatar.

In 2010, the largest tanker in the world was renamed for the last time (it was now called Mont) and, under the flag of Sierra Leone, was sent to India for disposal.

One of the anchors of this huge ship is on display at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

What is the largest tanker in the world

There is still debate among experts about which of the giant tankers should be given the well-deserved first place. This is due to the fact that the original dimensions of the Knock Nevis were: length - 376.7 m, and deadweight - 418,610 tons, and only after refurbishment the ship turned into a real colossus with a length of 458.45 m, deadweight of 564,763 tons and a displacement of 657,000 tons.

The initial dimensions of his opponent Batillus were as follows: length - 414.22 m and deadweight - 553,662 tons, in addition, Batillus was not subject to modifications and did not change its purpose.

Future technologies

Very soon, the largest tanker in the world (photo above) will hand over the palm among the largest ships to truly huge floating cities with offices, parks, residential buildings and roads. The project of such a city called "Green Float" was developed by a Japanese company and will soon be implemented.

Another equally ambitious plan for a floating city, Eco Atlantis, is being implemented by a company from China, China Communications. The city is being built near the coast of Nigeria.

Top 10: the largest and most famous warships in the world

Man began to master the water element a very long time ago. Scientists believe that man invented the first swimming equipment 50-60 thousand years ago. These were rafts made of bundles of reeds or logs, but this did not stop our desperate ancestors from setting off on such fragile boats to new islands and even continents. In ancient times, the sea did not separate people, but, on the contrary, connected different cultures and civilizations.

Ancient people used the sea for trade, transporting goods, searching for new territories and for war. Very soon the sea became another arena of fierce battles. Already in the ancient world, the first specialized warships appeared, and large-scale naval battles began to take place. The largest of these was the Battle of Salamis between the Persians and Greeks, which took place in the Aegean Sea in 480 BC. e.

10. MDKVP "Zubr" (USSR/Russia)

Our ranking of the 10 largest ships opens with a hovercraft. Although this ship bore the official name “small landing ship,” this should not mislead you: the Zubr’s displacement is 555 tons, and its length is more than 57 meters. However, the ship's greatest advantage is its speed, which can reach 60 knots.

The ship was developed in the Soviet Union and entered service in 1988. The Zubr MDKVP can carry three main battle tanks (up to 150 tons) and 140 paratroopers. Today, similar ships are in service with the Russian and Greek navies.

9. Battleship Yamato (Japan)

In ninth place in the top 10 is a Japanese super battleship from the Second World War. Yamato is the largest warship sunk by the enemy. It was launched in 1939. "Yamato" took part in battles in the Pacific Ocean and was destroyed by American aircraft, without having time to fire a single salvo from its main caliber guns.

The dimensions of this ship are truly impressive: length - 263 meters, total displacement - more than 72 thousand tons. It was armed with nine 460 mm main caliber cannons, which could fire at a distance of up to 45 kilometers.

8. Iowa-class battleships

This is a series of American battleships whose construction began before World War II. Today, the battleships of this project are the largest existing ships of their class. A total of four battleships were built, they took part in combat operations in the Pacific Ocean, and then provided support to ground forces during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Three battleships have been converted into floating museums, and another is part of the United States Reserve Fleet.

The length of each of these ships is 270 meters, the displacement is more than 57 thousand tons. Artillery armament consists of nine 406 mm guns and twenty 127 mm cannons.

6. Linear sailing ship Santisima Trinidad (“Holy Trinity”, Spain)

In sixth place in the top 10 is the Spanish combat sailing ship, which is considered the largest in history. It was built in Cuba in 1769 and was in service with the Spanish Navy for about 35 years.

For its time, the battleship "Holy Trinity" was a real giant. The entire hull, including the planking and deck, was made of very durable and expensive material - Cuban mahogany, and pine from Mexico was used for the masts. The battleship was armed with 140 cannons of various calibers, its displacement was 5 thousand tons, and its crew was 1200 people.

Due to its large size, the ship was very clumsy, but the thickness of the sides of 60 cm made the battleship practically unsinkable. The famous Admiral Nelson repeatedly encountered this ship in battle. The last time this happened was during the Battle of Trafalgar: seven English battleships fought simultaneously with the Spanish battleship, but they were never able to sink it. After the battle was won, the British wanted to tow the giant to Britain, but on the way it sank.

Once upon a time, ancient people built the first boats and set off to travel across the expanses of water. Since then, shipbuilding has developed significantly. Ships serve not only for travel, but also for transporting goods. Most of the top 10 largest ships in the world are cargo ships.

10 Vale Sohar

The length of this ship is 362 m. Its deadweight is 400,315 tons. The ship was launched in 2012 and is still in operation. "Vale Sohar" is a ship from the family of huge bulk carriers. It is designed to transport ore.

9TI Class


The length of such a ship is 380 m, and the deadweight is 441,585 tons. The first of these ships set sail in 2003. There are 4 TI Class ships in total: TI Oceania, TI Africa, TI Asia, TI Europe. All these ships have a double hull. In 2010, the ships TI Africa and TI Asia were converted into floating platforms for storing and loading oil. The remaining two representatives of the "TI Class" are still used as ships.

8 CMA CGM Alexander von Humboldt


The length of this ship is 396 m. The gross carrying capacity of this vessel is 187,624 tons. The ship “CMA CGM Alexander von Humboldt” is a container ship.

7 Emma Maersk


The length of this ship is 397 m. The deadweight of this vessel is 156,907 tons. A fire tried to prevent the construction of this ship, but in 2006 Emma Maersk nevertheless set off on its maiden voyage. In 2013, this ship again faced the threat of destruction. One of the ship's engines was damaged and it lost control while in the Suez Canal. The ship "Emma Maersk" did not sink, and control was restored. This vessel is still in use today and is engaged in transporting a variety of cargo through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal.

6 Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller


The length of this ship is 399 m. The carrying capacity of this vessel is 18,270 TEU. The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller is a container ship. It can reach speeds of up to 23 knots.

5 Esso Atlantic


The length of this ship was 406.5 m. The deadweight of this vessel was 516,891 tons. The Esso Atlantic ship set off on its maiden voyage in 1977. This ship was an oil supertanker and, as you might guess, was mainly engaged in transporting oil. In 2002, the Esso Atlantic ship was dismantled for scrap.

4 Pierre Guillaumat


The length of this ship was 414.2 m. The deadweight of this vessel was 555,051 tons. The speed of the Pierre Guillaumat was 16 knots. This huge ship was a supertanker. The ship "Pierre Guillaumat" first set off on a water voyage in 1977. However, this ship could not pass through either the Suez or the Panama Canal - its large size did not allow it. And not every port was capable of receiving such a huge ship. Due to these travel restrictions, the Pierre Guillaumat was broken up for scrap in 1983.

3 Batillus


This ship had a length of 414.22 m. The gross carrying capacity of this vessel was 554,000 tons. The Batillus ship could reach speeds of up to 16-17 knots. This ship was a supertanker. This ship made its last voyage in 1985.

2 Seawise Giant (Knock Nevis)


The length of this supertanker ship was 458.5 m. The deadweight of this vessel was 564,763 tons. The ship “Seawise Giant (Knock Nevis)” set off on its maiden voyage in 1979. The huge size did not allow this supertanker to fit in the Suez or Panama Canal. This ship also could not pass through the English Channel. However, this ship continued to transport oil. In 1988, the Seawise Giant (Knock Nevis) was badly damaged. The huge ship sank. However, this is not the end of the story of the big supertanker! This ship sank not far from the coast. In the end, it was repaired. In 1991, this ship again continued traveling across the waters. True, the name of the ship was already different: “Happy Giant”. Then the supertanker became a floating platform. In 2009, the Happy Giant ship was dismantled for scrap.

1 Prelude


The length of this ship is 488 m. The deadweight of this vessel is 600,000 tons. At the moment, the Prelude ship is under construction. In 2013, the completed hull of the vessel was launched. Prelude is planned to be a floating platform on which natural gas will be produced, liquefied and transported.

Some of the ships described above were dismantled for scrap, some still continue to travel across the waters of the seas or oceans, and some have not yet made their first voyage.

The navy of each state is an indicator of its wealth, power and authority. Since World War II, an arms race began that has not ended to this day. Almost every maritime power is trying to surpass its rival. The emerging two leaders are not giving up their positions. They own the largest warships in the world.
The rating presents 10 positions, taking into account the length of vessels of various types.

10.

The top ten largest warships are opened by destroyers-helicopter carriers of the "". They are designed to track submarines and destroy them. The lead Japanese destroyer Izumo entered combat service in 2015.

Another helicopter carrier, Kaga, is on the way, which will be put into service in 2017. The length of the first military vessel is 248 m, and the crew capacity is about 1000 military personnel. The Japanese is capable of transporting up to two dozen helicopters. This is the largest battlefield that Japan has built.

9.



Project 1144 cruisers are four heavy nuclear-powered missile cruisers belonging to the Russian Navy. Three of them are currently undergoing modernization (Admiral Ushakov, Admiral Lazarev, Admiral Nakhimov). The Russian fleet is armed with the cruiser "Peter the Great", the length of which reaches 251 m. The main purpose of the flagship is to destroy enemy aircraft carrier facilities. It has several hundred combat missiles and many other ammunition in stock. The crew capacity is 1035 people.

8.



Universal landing ships of the Wasp type are designed to land American Navy troops on foreign territory. A total of eight vessels of this type were built, which have been in service since 1989 to this day. The length of the universal ship reaches 257 m. It is capable of transporting up to 40 military aircraft, and is designed for more than two thousand crew members.

7.



The America-class universal landing ships are designed to gradually replace Wasp-class military vessels. The mission of the ships remains the same: to ensure the landing of troops along with military equipment on the unequipped enemy coasts. Currently, the lead ship "America" ​​has been put into service and another one has been built. Under the project of aircraft carriers of this type, 11 more ships are planned. The length of the lead “landing party” is just over 257 m. The military vessel is designed for approximately 3,000 military crew. America is designed to carry larger military equipment than Wasp and other aircraft carriers of the same size. Military vessels of this type are among the largest universal ships.

6.



"" is the first nuclear-powered ship and aircraft carrier of the French Navy, which replaced Clemenceau. The length of the flagship reaches 261 m, it is capable of transporting up to 40 aircraft structures. The crew capacity on board is 1900 people. The ship has been in use since 2001 and takes part in military exercises and conflicts. It is France's only aircraft carrier and largest warship.

5.



French aircraft carriers of the "" type were considered one of the most powerful warships in France. Two such ships were built: Clemenceau and Foch. The first was withdrawn from service with the French Navy, and the second was sold to Brazil at the beginning of this century. Now the ship is called "São Paulo" and is in service with the Brazilian fleet. The aircraft carrier is capable of accommodating 39 aircraft on deck. Its length is 265 m. The ship can accommodate more than 1,300 crew members.

4.



"" - project 1143 aircraft-carrying cruisers. Only four aircraft carriers of this type were created: Kyiv, Minsk, Novorossiysk, and Baku. The last of the series, "Baku" has the greatest length, which is almost 274 m. This ship completely came into the possession of India in 2004, and was renamed "Vikramaditya". The modernized combat aircraft carrier is currently part of the Indian Navy. At its site it is capable of transporting up to 36 aircraft and 1,300 crew members. Vikramaditya is one of the largest warships.

3.



"" - one of the largest domestic warships currently. It is designed to protect maritime borders from possible attacks from other countries and is capable of hitting large surface targets. The length of the vessel is about 306 m. It is part of the Northern Fleet and has been in use from 1991 to the present day. Kuznetsov is capable of transporting up to 40 aircraft and can accommodate up to 2,000 people. This is the first and only large aircraft carrier in our country.

2.



Aircraft carriers of the "" type - largest warships, which are in service with the United States. The type of American aircraft carrier is designed to destroy large surface targets and provide air defense. The military giant is capable of transporting 90 aircraft at a time, which is many times greater than the capabilities of other aircraft carriers. The maximum length of the huge ship is more than 332 m, it can accommodate up to 3,200 people on just one ship, not counting the air wing.

The mass of combat supplies on board is about two thousand tons. There are ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in total. The cost of one Nimitz is about four and a half billion dollars. The first lead ship, the Nimitz, after which the type of aircraft carrier was named, was released in the 70s of the last century. During the entire time in operation, the ships took part in wars that took place in Yugoslavia, Iraq, etc. The series includes the following ships: “Nimitz” (1975); "Eisenhower" (1977); "Vinson" (1982); "Roosevelt" (1986); "Lincoln" (1989); "Washington" (1992); "Stennis" (1995); "Truman" (1998); Reagan (2003); "Bush" (2009). Each of these vessels has a service life of 50 years.

1.



The aircraft carrier "" is one of the largest combat ships in the world. Its length is 342 m. According to the project, 5 more aircraft carriers of this type were planned. But due to the large financial costs that went into the first ship, the project was suspended. The ship was in service with the US Navy from 1961 to 2012. The ship's ammunition reached two and a half thousand tons.

The area of ​​the giant ship was capable of accommodating 90 helicopters and airplanes on its site, as well as up to 5,000 crew members. The warship took part in many military conflicts and went to sea twenty-five times. Currently, work is underway to dismantle the aircraft carrier. It will be replaced by the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, whose length will be 337 m. Its construction was completed in 2013. Commissioning is planned for 2016.

Today we will talk about the largest ships that exist on our planet. Among them there will be passenger, cargo, military and industrial ships. Most of these ships are so incredibly large that they cannot navigate most straits and canals. Such ships will never be able to visit most ports, since they simply will not fit there.

We have selected 10 of the most incredible giant ships for you. Half of them were built relatively recently; several have already been decommissioned and are unseaworthy. But there are models that you can still visit, because cruise ships are still plying the ocean.

1. Prelude. This platform will be designed for the transportation and production of natural gas, its length will be 488 m. The vessel will be the world's first platform built for such a purpose. It is created by a well-known South Korean company. The size of this ship is so huge that it could fit 5 football fields or 170 swimming pools for the Olympic Games.

This gas processing plant is still under development, but construction is scheduled to be completed by 2017. The first drilling of the seabed off Australia is already planned. It is also worth noting that this ship cannot be sunk. It was designed in such a way that it will withstand even the most severe hurricane.

2. Seawise Giant. This ship is the largest tanker designed for storing and transporting oil. Its length is 458 m. The tanker was built in Japan for a customer from Greece, but the buyer refused to pay for the goods. It turned out that the ship has very strong vibration when it reverses. So it was sold to Hong Kong and slightly rebuilt. Since 1970, the ship has belonged to 5 different owners.

During the Iran-Iraq war, the ship was nearly sunk when a missile was fired at it from a fighter jet. A fire broke out on the ship, and the entire crew had to be evacuated, after which the ship became stranded. After this incident, everyone considered the ship sunk. It stood in the Strait of Hormuz until the Norwegians repaired it. After that, it operated until 2009; now it is used for storing oil.

3. Pierre Guillaumat. The tanker is 414 m long and was built by the French in 1978. Unfortunately, she only went to sea for 5 years, after which she was dismantled for parts in Korea. This happened due to the fact that the ship could not pass into the Panama Canal, because of this it did not generate income.

4. CSCL Globe. The largest container ship set sail for the first time in the winter of 2015. Its length is 400 m, the ship belongs to a Chinese company and is the largest among container ships. This ship is also famous for having the most powerful engine in the world, which is 17 m high. After the successful creation of this ship, China decided to release another ship, which will be many times larger.

5. Emma Maersk. This container ship, 397 m long, was created in Denmark. In 2006, the ship set sail. This is currently the largest operating vessel. Despite its size, it can go into the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. There is always a lot of gossip and rumors about this ship, because there was a major fire during its construction. Later, in 2013, the ship lost control in the Suez Canal.

6. Pioneering Spirit. The ship ranks first in terms of deck area. Its developers claim that the ship can comfortably accommodate a medium-sized city. Its length is 382 m. It was created in South Korea to transport drilling platforms and lay pipelines under water. There was a huge scandal in Europe this year because the ship had previously been named after the Nazi and criminal Peter Schelte Heerm. This scandal reached the British government, after which the head of the company, who is the son of the criminal, agreed to rename the ship.

7. Allure of the Seas. The world's largest cruise ship can accommodate more than 6,000 passengers. It is made by an American-Norwegian company, its length is 362 m. There is a lot of entertainment for vacationers on board. There is a park with trees and flowers, a skating rink, an aquatheater, shops, a climbing wall, bars, saunas, restaurants, etc. The liner is in great demand, the price for a two-week voyage starts from 50,000 rubles.

8. Valemax. The ship is the largest dry cargo ship designed to transport ore. The vessel was launched in 2010, its length is 360 m. This dry cargo ship uses 97 tons of fuel per day.

9. Queen Mary II. The ship is one of the largest passenger liners, its length is 345 m. It was built by a French company and can accommodate 2,000 passengers. The uniqueness of this liner is that in addition to casinos, theaters, restaurants and other entertainment, it houses a planetarium on board.