Since ancient times, the ability to swim like a fish has been no less desirable for a person than the ability to fly like a bird. What the body given by nature cannot do, the machines we have built have helped to accomplish. From the fragile boats of antiquity, mankind has grown to the creation of huge cities on the water. The largest of them, even a modern person accustomed to the achievements of progress, amaze with a combination of power and beauty.

The largest ships in the world: selection criteria

To name the most-most huge ship, there are at least two criteria: dimensions (length and width) and displacement (in fact, this is the volume of the underwater part of the ship).

In addition, to determine the winner in individual categories, his ability to perform his main task is of decisive importance. For a passenger ship, this is the number of passengers that it can take on board and the number of cabins, for a bulk carrier or tanker, the weight of the cargo carried, for a container ship, the number of containers.

Sailboats and steamships

Before moving on to modern record holders, let's remember their predecessors, those who plowed the seas driven by the power of wind and steam.

Biggest sailing ship that has ever left the stocks is the French barque France II. The ship had a displacement of almost 11 tons and a length of 146 meters. For only ten years - from 1912 to 1922 - they carried out regular cargo transportation, until the sailboat that ran aground off the coast of New Caledonia was abandoned by the owners. The ship was finally destroyed in 1944 during a bombardment.

The greatest steamship in history is the Great Eastern launched in 1857. Its length is 211 meters, and its displacement is 22.5 thousand tons. The ship was propelled by two wheels and one propeller, but could also sail. The main purpose of the vessel is passenger transportation; Great Eastern could take up to 4000 people on board. Unfortunately, the age of coal and steam was not kind to such large-scale projects - the operation of Great Eastern turned out to be unprofitable and was discontinued for economic reasons.

Absolute record holder

For many years, the winner in the nomination "The largest ships in the world" was a tanker Knock Nevis. Erected in 1976 in Japan, it changed its name many times and underwent a major restructuring. The champion acquired the final dimensions in 1981 (under the name Seawise Giant): 458.5 meters long, 68 wide with a displacement of 565 thousand tons.

A huge tanker is a piece of equipment that is not so easy to find a use for. Due to its size, the ship had a low speed, a huge (more than 10 kilometers!) braking distance, could not pass through strategic navigable straits and could only moor in a few ports around the world.

See the photo of yourself big ship you can on any site dedicated to the history of shipbuilding, but this giant has recently belonged to the past, just like sailboats and steamships. In 2010, the ship, which had not been used for six years, was cut into scrap metal.

Workaholic Giants

Like the Seawise Giant, the other largest ships are also cargo ships: tankers, bulk carriers, container ships.

The longest ship currently in use (397 meters) is the container ship Emma Maersk. According to various sources, it is possible to lift from 11 to 14 thousand standard containers without its board. Since the designers were tasked with ensuring the passage of Emma Maersk through the Suez and Panama canals, the width and draft of the ship were set quite moderate. Therefore, the displacement of such a giant is "only" 157 thousand tons.

And the largest ships in the world in terms of displacement are four Hellespont supertankers. Although the length of each of them is 17 meters less than that of the leader among container ships, but the displacement is one and a half times greater - 234 thousand tons.

The ore carriers of the Brazilian company Vale are not too inferior to them. The largest of them - Vale Sohar - has a displacement of about 200 thousand tons and a length of 360 meters. The maximum load that this giant is able to carry is 400 thousand tons.

Cruise beauties

Although passenger ships are not as large as cargo ships, they make an indelible impression. A cruise liner is not a means of transportation, but a luxury vacation spot. The large size of the ship here serves not so much to accommodate as many passengers as possible on board, but to create all conceivable comfort that would satisfy the most demanding public.

The largest passenger ships are many times larger than the Titanic that once seemed incredible. A couple of twin liners Allure of the Seas and Oasis in the Seas are unmatched in size. 362 meters in length and 225 thousand tons of displacement - figures comparable to the largest cargo ships. Each of the liners can comfortably accommodate 6,400 passengers. In addition, 2,100 personnel are serving on board (this is against several dozen sailors serving tankers and bulk carriers).

Allure of the Seas or Oasis in the Seas offers shops, casinos, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, a fitness center, volleyball and basketball courts, a sauna and swimming pools. There is even a park with real trees and grass.

Sea storm

You can not ignore the largest warships. These are now aircraft carriers. And this is understandable: no matter how the aircraft engineers work to reduce the take-off run of aircraft, the “winged sailors” still need a rather big track for the start.

In the period before World War II, the most powerful maritime powers built especially large warships - battleships. The largest of them is the flagship of the Japanese fleet "Yamato". 263 meters long, 40 wide, with a crew of 2,500 sailors, the battleship seemed simply invulnerable. However, the ship, launched in 1940, was sunk shortly before the surrender of Japan.

The development of anti-submarine weapons made such ships too convenient a target. The ships laid down in those years were still in service (for example, the American battleships of the Iowa project), but the main stake in the post-war period was placed on aircraft carriers.

The largest naval ship of all time was the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. It is 342 meters long and 78 meters wide. The ship carried up to 90 aircraft (airplanes and helicopters), which served 1800 people. The total crew is 3,000 sailors. After serving for more than half a century, in 2012 the Enterprise was withdrawn from service with the United States Navy. Now its place has been taken by Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, slightly inferior in size to their predecessor - the length of the largest modern aircraft-carrying ships is 333 meters.

The largest ships in Russia

Although Russian-made ships do not occupy the top positions in the ratings of the largest ships in the world, some models are unrivaled in their categories.

Thus, the flagship of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation, the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky, is the world's largest non-aircraft-carrying combat strike ship. Cruiser dimensions: 251 meters - length, 28 meters - width, displacement - 28 thousand tons. Main task: counteracting enemy aircraft carrier formations.

There is another record holder in the service of the Russian Navy - the Akula submarine (Project 941). The length of the boat is 173 meters, the underwater displacement is 48 thousand tons, the crew is 160 people. The submarine is equipped with a nuclear reactor and diesel power plants. The main weapons are intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.

From civil courts must mention the largest nuclear icebreaker"50 Years of Victory", which came off the stocks in 1993. Perhaps, knowing what the largest ships in the world are, its 160 meters in length will seem frivolous, but still this ship has no equal in its class.

Giant in the shipyard

In addition to the actual ships, modern shipbuilders are busy developing other marine giants - floating platforms. Strikingly large structures can be used for various purposes, from mining to launching spacecraft.

Right now, the shipyards of the South Korean Samsung Heavy Industries are completing the Prelude floating platform, which the customer, Royal Dutch Shell, plans to use for the extraction, liquefaction and transportation of natural gas. In 2013, the Prelude hull was launched. Its dimensions are more impressive than the largest ships in the world can boast. A photo of the unfinished giant has become available to everyone interested.

The vessel is 488 meters long, 78 meters wide, and has a displacement of 600,000 tons. It is assumed that the platform will move with the help of tugs. Only the absence of its own running gear does not allow Prelude to be called a champion among giant ships. The platform is still not a ship.

The largest cruise ships have the most luxurious and impressive amenities. These are almost gigantic cities floating on the ocean. Below is a list with photos of the ten largest cruise ships in the world.

Liberty of the Seas is a Freedom class cruise ship. Started regular flights in May 2007. This 15-deck liner can accommodate 4,370 passengers with a crew of 1,360. It was built in 18 months at the Aker Finnyards shipyard in Turku, Finland. It has a length of 338 m, a width of 56 m. The maximum speed is 21.6 knots (40 km/h). Gross tonnage - 155,889 GT.

Norwegian Escape - a cruise ship, built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany in just 17 months in October 2015. It is 325.9 m long, 41.4 m wide, and has a gross tonnage of 165,300 GT. It can accommodate 4,266 passengers and 1,733 crew members. The artwork on the case is the work of Jamaican artist and conservationist Guy Harvey.

Norwegian Joy is a cruise ship built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany in 2017 specifically for the Chinese cruise market. Unusual in that he was given a godfather, the Chinese singer Wang Lihom, and not, as is customary, a godmother. The Joy is 333.46 meters long, 41.40 meters wide, and has a gross tonnage of 167,725 GT. Capable of accommodating 3,883 passengers and 1,700 crew members.

MS Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and is operated by Royal Caribbean International. Sailing under the flag of the Bahamas with a home port in Nassau. The ship was laid down on March 5, 2015 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The launch took place on February 18, 2016. Chinese actress Fan Bingbing became the godmother of the ship. Its first flight took place on April 14, 2016 from Southampton (UK) to Tianjin. The length of the liner is 348 m, the width is 48.9 m, the gross tonnage is 168.666 GT. Can accommodate 4,180 passengers.

MS Anthem of the Seas is a cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. It was laid down on November 20, 2013 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Launching took place on February 20, 2015. On April 10, 2015 the ship was commissioned. He was christened on April 20, 2015, and British historian and publicist Emma Wilby became his godmother. The liner made its first flight on April 22, 2015 from Southampton to the coast of France and Spain. Gross tonnage - 168.666 GT, length - 348 m, width - 49.4 m. Capacity - 4,180 people.

MS Quantum of the Seas (Quantum of the Seas) is a Quantum-class cruise ship of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. It was laid down on August 2, 2013 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Launching took place on August 9, 2014. On October 28, 2014, the vessel was put into operation, and on October 31 of the same year it was transferred to the service of the fleet of the customer company. The first flight was carried out on November 2, 2014. Godmother of "Quantum" was the American actress Kristin Chenoweth. Its first flight took place on November 2, 2014 from New Jersey along the Atlantic coast of the United States. The length of the liner is 348.1 m, the width is 49.4 m. The gross tonnage is 168.666 GT. Passenger capacity - 4 180 people.

MSC Meraviglia is a high-tech cruise ship that entered service on June 3, 2017. Owned by the Italian cruise company MSC Cruises. His baptism ceremony in Le Havre on June 3, 2017 was attended by actor Patrick Bruel, musical group Kids United and comedian Gad Elmaleh. Godmother was Sophia Loren. With a length of 315.83 meters and a gross tonnage of 171,598 GT, the ship can accommodate 5,700 passengers.

Oasis of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. It was built at the Norwegian shipyard in Turku - STX Europe, commissioned by Royal Caribbean International in October 2009. Its construction cost was about $1.5 billion, making it the most expensive passenger ship in the history of civil shipping. Can carry 6,630 passengers and 2,160 crew members. Its length is 361.6 m, width - 47 m, gross tonnage - 225.282 GT.

MS Harmony of the Seas is a cruise ship built by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France in 2015. Owned by the American company Royal Caribbean International. The vessel is 362.12 meters long, 47.42 meters wide and has a gross tonnage of 226,963 GT and has 2,744 passenger cabins. The maximum number of people on board is 6,360 passengers and 2,400 crew members.

MS Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis class cruise ship built by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France between October 2015 and March 2018. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. As of June 2017, it is the largest passenger ship in the world. It has a length of 362 m, a beam of 65.68 m and a gross tonnage of 228,081 GT. Capable of accommodating 5,518 passengers and a crew of 2,200.

The largest passenger ship built in the 21st century is the Oasis of the Seas, which impresses not only with its gigantic appearance, but also with an unsurpassed level of service. However, today he has enough competitors who run between cities mediterranean sea, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Ship	Length	Width	Height	Displacement
Princess Diamond	289 m	37 m	55 m	115,875 Gt
carnival dream	306 m	37 m	60 m	130,000 Gt
Voyager of the Seas	311 m	47 m	63 m	137,276 Gt
celebrity eclipse	317 m	36 m	63 m	121,878 Gt
Norwegian epic	325 m	40 m	61 m	155 873 t
Splendida	333 m	38 m	67 m	137936 t
Freedom of the Seas	339 m	56 m	63 m	154,407 Gt
Disney Dream	340 m	37 m	66 m	129,690 Gt
R.M.S. Queen Mary II	345 m	45 m	72 m	79 287 t
Royal Caribbean. Oasis of the Seas	360 m	60.5 m	72 m	225 282 Gt

Princess Diamond

The ship Princess Diamond was made in Japan, began to work on permanent cruise itineraries back in 2004 and is one of the biggest brainchild of his shipyard. Today, the liner operates mainly in Alaska and Asia (in winter). But last years began to be used for cruises to Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to a wide variety of rooms oriented to different incomes (starting from 15 m2), there are many options on board for active or passive recreation.

For example, calm passengers will be able to choose the most suitable restaurant for themselves from 8 available. There is also the opportunity to go to the library, massage parlors, visit the training center or even visit the chapel. Of course, it was not without excursions that are held in each of the cities where the liner calls.

For active vacationers, fitness centers and swimming pools, playgrounds for playing basketball, mini-football, tennis courts are at full disposal. On board there is a bowling alley and billiards. In total, the ship has 17 decks, of which 13 are reserved for passengers (total capacity - 2670 guests and 1238 crew members).

carnival dream

The main difference of the passenger ship Carnival Dream is considered to be especially spacious cabins, which are both higher and larger than on similar cruise ships. Since its launch in 2009, Carnival Dream has become one of the largest passenger ships.

There are a huge number of large and very small cafes and restaurants on board. Some of them will please with round-the-clock service, including delivery to the room.

Much has been done on the ship for sports fans: from full-fledged basketball and tennis courts to the usual gyms and swimming pools. Most of the day there is a water park, which is perfect for family leisure.

But if all of the above is not enough, then, walking along the numerous decks, you can find children's and family cinemas, beauty salons, boutiques, a theater with daily performances, numerous discos for every taste, and a casino.

15 decks are provided for accommodation of vacationers. The total capacity is designed for 3646 guests and 1369 team members.

Voyager of the Seas

One of the largest liners for a luxurious seaside vacation - Voyager of the Seas - was built and launched back in 1998. A year later, he began his first cruise. For the first time, many entertainments were tested on it, which much later became common for passenger ships for ocean and sea cruises.

For example, Voyager of the Seas immediately attracted attention because of the real ice rink on board. By the way, the first problems with ice were discovered on it, which cracked during pitching. After a series of observations and improvements, the errors got rid of.

Today, the distinguishing features of this ship are the imitation of a real street on board, which stretches for ¾ of the length of the liner and reaches a height of 4 decks. Above it is a glass dome throughout. And the fullness of the opening views is added by "street" musicians and other entertainment, cafes, restaurants, boutiques with glass windows, as in a familiar city.

Another attraction of the liner is a two-deck library. Of course, the board did not do without swimming pools, sports centers and even a theater, which is an exact copy of the famous La Scala.

In total, Voyager has 17 decks, 15 of which are reserved for guest accommodation. At the same time, a trip is possible for 3114 or even 3850 passengers (if we use accommodation for 3-4 people in a cabin). The crew and attendants - 1181 people.

celebrity eclipse

Celebrity Eclipse is the largest cruise ship between the ports of the Baltic Sea. The program of his cruises includes St. Petersburg with a stop for a few days and city tours.

At the time of its launch (2010), the ship was recognized as the most energy efficient on the planet.

One of the attractions is the upper deck with a fresh lawn, where you can play cricket or golf and even have a small picnic in the middle of the sea! All passengers can visit there.

There are many sports halls and fitness centers on board. There is a casino. But most of all there are catering establishments and discos. The ship has 4 large restaurants, as well as a number of smaller establishments. The real pride of the liner is a rich selection of wines. By the way, experienced sommeliers, including Russian speakers, help with the choice.

In total, there are 13 decks on board, which housed cabins (9 out of 10 cabins offer unforgettable sea views) for 2850 travelers. Service personnel and crew - 1271 people.

Norwegian epic

The largest passenger ship used on Mediterranean cruises - the Norwegian Epic - only with the onset of winter in Europe moves to Bahamas. It has its own recognizable feature - the almost vertical bow of the deck, which gives the impression of a chopped ship shape.

The ship was launched in 2010, and already in 2015 it underwent a major renovation. Thanks to this, today on board you can find quality service and unsurpassed leisure.

Of course, the liner is designed to surprise. Among the unique features is the 3-story lobby in the heart of the ship, where the largest floating chandelier is suspended. Also, part of the pools and discos are partially located outside the stern. And as a change at any time of the year, you can visit the Ice Bar, where the temperature never rises above -8 C.

There are 60 VIP rooms on board, each of which has its own open veranda. Entertainment can be found for both children and adults. For example, the ship has a Nickelodeon amusement park, which will offer many animated shows, video games, cinemas for children from 2 to 12 years old.

For adults, there are ample opportunities for measured rest (restaurants, cinemas, bars, spa centers), as well as active activities (fitness centers, a full-fledged sports ground, discos, a water park). In total, the Norwegian Epic has 15 decks for passengers, accommodating 4,200 people. The service personnel is 1730 crew members.

Splendida

The five-star cruise ship Splendida launched in 2009. It was built in the French docks, and the overall design style is distinguished by exquisite Italian design. The ship mainly sails on Mediterranean cruises between the ports of Italy, France and Spain.

The vessel has not undergone any renovations since its launch. But the service and interior remain relevant and one of the best to this day.

Thus, the key feature is excellent organization nutrition. Dozens of diverse restaurants, cafes, pizzerias, sports bars are at the service of visitors. The dishes are prepared by experienced and famous chefs, so any day you can enjoy best food and delicacies. The feature of the entire liner can be called a Mediterranean restaurant with panoramic windows.

But a lot has been done for leisure on board. For example, sports enthusiasts will be able to work out in fitness clubs, play basketball and tennis on full-fledged playgrounds, swim in one of 5 pools (1 of them with a closing roof).

Of course, on Splendida there are casinos, solariums, spas, a library, theater and cinema, tour desks, chic boutiques, and many rooms with virtual reality games. 3274 guests can be accommodated on 13 decks at the same time. And the attendants are 1332 crew members.

Freedom of the Seas

The passenger ship Freedom of the Seas was launched in 2006 at the shipyards of the Finnish city of Turku. As expected, it has distinctive features that make it unique. For example, the largest and most spacious cabins in their class, which create a complete feeling of being not on a ship, but in an expensive hotel.

At the disposal of anyone there is even 14 presidential suites, which have 4 bedrooms, a private veranda with a jacuzzi and a swimming pool, a living room for receiving guests or business meetings and 4 exquisite bathrooms.

Most of the other rooms use special TV panels, which are made from floor to ceiling. To reduce the load on the ship, the bulk of the wires have been removed, and information is transmitted via Wi-Fi channels. Even larger screens are located in public places. All this creates an atmosphere of the future here and now.

The water park on board, which occupies the entire deck, is a real center of attention. During daylight hours, it can rightfully be considered perfect place for family holidays. At nightfall, the place turns into the largest open-air disco on the sea. A special sophistication is in the unique lighting effects and chic water shows.

Thorough attention is paid to the organization of public catering places. Many restaurants and cafes are ready to offer an expensive menu, including rare Italian and French wines, author's cuisine and dishes from all over the world.

The diversity continues with the obligatory presence of fitness centers, sports fields (there is even a boxing ring and tennis courts), swimming pools, a climbing wall, modern cinemas, a casino and an amphitheater. The last renovation of the vessel took place in 2015, due to which the total capacity was increased (up to 4370 passengers and 1360 crew members).

Disney Dream

The Disney Dream cruise ship launched in 2011, immediately hitting the top ten largest passenger ships in the world. The main direction of recreation on board is family entertainment, which is clear from the name. A lot of leisure activities are offered specifically for children. But adults can also find entertainment to their taste at any time of the day or night.

The ship operates throughout the year in the southern United States and the Bahamas, offering cruises of 3 to 5 days. The program includes a stop along the way at Disney's own island.

Disney Dream - the largest passenger ship in the world for children

The ship stands out first of all first water slides and a full-fledged water park on the sea. The complex is called AquaDuck and will offer a colorful, memorable vacation for all family members.

But the unique offerings don't end there. The ship housed a large entertainment water center The Oceaneer Club. Its dimensions are so huge that they make it easy to divide the area into four equal parts, oriented for children of different ages.

For adults, too, there are many familiar ways to relax. Starting from restaurants, bars and boutiques, ending with discos, swimming pools, beauty salons. In total, the ship has 14 decks, which can accommodate up to 4,000 guests. The crew consists of 1458 people.

R.M.S. Queen Mary II

The largest passenger ship on the day it was launched in France in 2004 is the Queen Mary II. Its name contains the abbreviation RMS (Royal Mail Ship or literally "royal mail ship").

Today, the ship, operating several months a year on the transatlantic passenger line (Southampton - New York and back), is engaged in the transport of mail. For these purposes, ships with the best performance in terms of speed and reliability have always been involved.

The rest of the time, the ocean liner is used for cruises. The main quality of Queen Mary II is luxurious service. The ship remains the only one in the world where classes of service are preserved. Depending on the level of the cabin, passengers are assigned "their" restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

The special chic of the cruise can be experienced in the unique ballroom with the largest area on the sea, which is used every day for balls, tea ceremonies and cocktail parties.

On board is a large number of fine restaurants. Basically, the rest is focused on wealthy people, so there are libraries on the ship, even exhibitions of paintings and works of art, auctions, theater performances are periodically held. There is a fairly large casino and developed center for sports recreation.

In total, Queen Mari II has 12 decks, which can accommodate a maximum of 2620 guests at a time. The team and support staff number 1253 people. The interiors of the ship really cause sincere admiration and are best suited for couples to relax. The last major upgrade of the liner was completed in 2016.

Royal Caribbean. Oasis of the Seas

The largest passenger ship, which is also by far the most expensive in the world, is the Oasis of the Seas liner. Its birth can be considered in 2009, when the ship launched from the shipyard of the city of Turku, and the cost of its production was estimated at 1.5 billion US dollars.

On board there is everything for any kind of holiday. For example, the world's largest mobile casino with tables for blackjack, poker, craps and roulette. Separate words deserves its own unique floating park, with more than 10,000 trees and shrubs from different climatic zones.

Amazing opportunities will be offered for fans of outdoor activities, because the ship has a basketball court, swimming pools with diving towers and jacuzzis, saunas, fitness centers, bowling alleys. The variety of offers does not end there, because you can even find a golf course and surf in a pool with artificial waves.

Of course, not without more familiar types of recreation. The decks of the ship are dotted with various boutiques, restaurants, concert venues, its own water amphitheater and, of course, 24-hour discos.

In total, Oasis of the Seas has 15 passenger decks that can accommodate up to 6880 passengers in cabins. And the total capacity, together with the crew and maintenance personnel, is estimated at 9,000 people. Traveling on the largest passenger ships is known as one of the most sophisticated and costly forms of recreation.

But we can say for sure that the best modern liners are able to give an unsurpassed level of service, a huge amount of unique entertainment, and most importantly - unforgettable landscapes, sunrises and sunsets on the high seas, adventures that make you feel like a pioneer of new lands.

Article formatting: Mila Fridan

Video about the largest ships

About the largest cruise ship in the world:

The largest and most famous passenger ship in the world for tragic events is Titanic. Everyone knows the unfortunate story of this greatest achievement of the 20th century. The ship was launched in 1911. While making its first voyage, it collided with an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and sank. , weighing 163 thousand tons, took with him to the bottom about one and a half thousand lives. It was possible to save only 700 people, they were picked up by a steamer passing by.

After the incident with the Titanic, the level of security on all liners has increased. All engineers and designers involved in the construction of passenger ships began to give priority to the conditions for ensuring the safety of human lives. As you know, one of the reasons for the mass death of people was the lack of a sufficient number of spare boats on the ship.

The best ships of the 21st century: top 5

The title of "The largest passenger ship in the world" passes from one ship to another every year - the rating is constantly changing. Ship models are constantly being improved, new requirements are being set at the local and international level, and high technologies are being created. In this regard, it is possible that in the near future the list will be replenished with new names of sea giants.

Since ancient times, people have traveled the seas, gradually improving their ships. Modern shipbuilding is very developed, and the range of ships has become extremely diverse. But the TOP of the largest ships in the world always attracts special attention, which will be discussed below.

1. Seawise Giant (Knock Nevis)

Deadweight - 564 700 tons.
. Length - 458.5 m.
. Year of construction - 1979.
. Last country of registration: Sierra Leone. Dismantled for scrap.

Until 2010, the largest ship in the world was the Knock Nevis supertanker, built in 1975 in the Japanese city of Yokosuka. Before changing several names, he had a simple number 1016. But the cyclopean dimensions actually ruined him - the tanker could not pass through either the Panama or the Suez Canal, even in the English Channel it would run aground, so move from ocean to ocean could only take a roundabout way.
During the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, an Iraqi missile hit him and seriously damaged him. As a result, the supertanker sank in Persian Gulf close to the coast. After the end of the conflict, he was raised from the bottom and towed to Singapore, where they were able to restore in 1991, giving him a new "optimistic" name "Happy Giant". But as a tanker, no one needed it, so it began to serve as a floating oil storage. Finally, in 2009, the "lucky" was sent on his last journey to the Indian shores, where the next year he was cut into scrap metal.

In order to conquer nature, man creates megamachines - the most incredible technology in the world, the possibilities and dimensions of which amaze the imagination. Their yes...

2. Pierre Guillaumat

Deadweight - 555,000 tons.
. Length - 414.2 m.
. Year of construction - 1977.
. Last country of registration: France. Cut up for scrap.

In the family of twin ships of the Batillus series, this supertanker is the largest in terms of deadweight. It was built at French shipyards, worked for nothing at all - 5 years, after which it was mercilessly sent in 1983 to South Korea, where it turned into scrap metal. The rest of his brothers from the same series shared his fate. The reasons for such an inglorious death in all cases were the same problems with the impossibility of passing through the Suez and Panama canals.

3 Esso Atlantic

Deadweight - 516 900 tons.
. Length - 406.5 m.
. Year of construction - 1977.
. Last country of registration: Liberia. Cut up for scrap.

At one time, this oil supertanker was also a deadweight champion. It was built in Japan, and made its first commercial route from African Liberia, where the company owner Esso Tankers registered it under the Liberian flag. Most often, the tanker transported oil from the Middle East to Europe. But in 2002, the end came to him - in Pakistan, he was cut into scrap metal. He was practically a twin ship "Esso Pacific", but despite the "Pacific" name, he was smaller than the "Atlantic brother".

4. Emma Maersk

Deadweight - 156 900 tons.
. Length - 397 m.
. Year of construction - 2006.
. Last country of registration: Denmark. It is still in operation.

This is the first ship of eight identical container ships of the E-class series, built by the Danish holding Moller-Maersk Group. At the time of her first voyage in 2006, she was the world's largest floating ship. "Emma Maersk" carries a variety of cargo between Asia and America, following through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar.
This ship has a not very successful history - when its construction was already being completed, a fire broke out on the upper deck, which seriously damaged the brand new ship. Needed some repairs which were done quickly. In 2013, a new misfortune happened - right in the middle of the Suez Canal, one of the dry cargo ship's power plants broke down, as a result of which it lost control. Fortunately, both the ship and the canal remained intact.
Europeans do not favor the giant for its use of sulfur-rich fuel. Like many giant ships, Emma does not fit into the Panama Canal, therefore Pacific Ocean it is closed for her (not around Cape Horn to sail there!).

5.TI Class

Deadweight - 441 600 tons.
. Length - 380 m.
. Year of construction - 2003.
. Last country of registration: Belgium. It is still in operation.

This double-hulled ship had the largest deadweight and gross tonnage of its time. In total, four completely identical ships were built: two "TI Africa" ​​and "TI Oceania" under the flag of the Marshall Islands, "TI Europe" under the Belgian flag and "TI Asia". But in 2010, floating platform-terminals for storing and shipping oil products were made from "Asia" and "Africa", since then they have been working on a layup near one of the Qatari offshore oil fields.

The modern development of armored forces is aimed at increasing the compactness and maneuverability of vehicles, that is, at making them lighter. When they are created on...

6 Vale Sohar

Deadweight - 400 300 t.
. Length - 362 m.
. Year of construction - 2012.
. Last country of registration: Marshall Islands. It is still in operation.

This vessel belongs to the family of the largest bulk carriers and is owned by the mining company Vale from Brazil. It transports ore mined in Brazil to the United States. In total, 40 huge dry cargo ships ply along this route, the deadweight of which is in the range of 380-400 thousand tons. Sohar is the largest ship among them.

7. Allure of the Seas

Deadweight - 19 750 tons.
. Length - 362 m.
. Year of construction - 2008.
. Last country of registration: Bahamas. It is still in operation.

This is a class ship cruise ships"Oasis", consisting of two twins (the second "Oasis in the Seas"), occupying a leading position for its type of ships in the world. They say that Allure is still 5 cm longer than Oasis, which is why it is presented here. This giant is able to take on board 6296 passengers and 2384 crew members. The types of entertainment offered on board are innumerable, this floating city has a golf course and an ice rink, a lot of bars and shops, there is even a park with exotic plants.

8. Queen Mary II

Deadweight - 19 200 t.
. Length - 345 m.
. Year of construction - 2002.
. Last country of registration: Bermuda. It is still in operation.

This beautiful transatlantic cruise ship is one of the largest passenger liners in the world. It is able to transport with maximum comfort from the Old to New World or back 2620 passengers. It was designed and built by the French company "Chantiers del" Atlantique ". On board there is a theater, a casino, 15 restaurants and the only planetarium on ships.

A lot of people would love to ride on cable car in order to experience all the extraordinary sensations caused by such a move...

9. Mozah

Deadweight - 128 900 tons.
. Length - 345 m.
. Year of construction - 2007.
. Last country of registration: Qatar. It is still in operation.

This vessel opens a new family of tankers of the Q-Max series, which specialize in the transportation of liquefied natural gas produced in fields off the coast of Qatar. It was designed and built in South Korea. In total, 14 tankers from this series are currently in operation.

10. USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

Length - 342 m.
. Year of construction - 1960.
. Last country of registration: USA. The aircraft carrier has been decommissioned.

This is the largest American nuclear strike aircraft carrier, the first to operate a nuclear power plant. He began acting in 1961. A series of six similar hulks was planned, but only the Enterprise was built. Its cost resulted in an incredible 451 million of those more dollars, so even the bottomless US budget could not afford such expenses. In length, it is the largest warship in the world. Having refueled once with nuclear fuel, the aircraft carrier acquired autonomy for 13 years of active service and could cover a million nautical miles during this time. In February 2017, the Enterprise was sent to an honorary retirement - for the US Navy, this was the first farewell to a nuclear aircraft carrier.

Hands to Feet. Subscribe to our group