Some of the biggest ships in the world today are cargo carriers, oil tankers, and cruise ships. It has become a trend in recent times to use larger ships for transportation. Some of these ships are considered as engineering marvels while others play an important role in world trade. Generally, the size of a ship is determined by the purpose for which it is to be used.
Some vessels require large diesel engines for long-distance transportation of containers. Others like cruise ships offer unimaginable luxuries in them for the entertainment and comfort of their passengers. Here, we’ve listed some of the biggest ships in the world:
1. HMM Algeciras
With 24,000 TEU capacity, HMM Algeciras is the largest container ship in the world. This Panama-flagged vessel has a length of nearly 400 meters and a depth of over 32 meters. It was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. It is among the twelve 24,000 TEU Class eco-friendly container vessels planned by HMM.
2. HMM Oslo
The sister ship of HMM Algeciras, this ship was constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries. In the year 2020, this ship made its maiden voyage along with its sister ships. This Panama-flagged vessel has a length of 400 meters and a width of 61.50 meters. The carrying capacity of HMM Oslo is 23,792 TEU, which is just 172 TEU less than HMM Algeciras.
3. Symphony of the Seas
It is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. It has 228,081 gross registered tons and has a height of 238 feet. The length of this cruise ship is 1,188 feet. This ship is an excellent choice for a family vacation as it has the tallest slide at sea.
4. TI Class supertankers
Among the world’s largest oil tankers still in operation are the TI Class supertankers. They belong to Tankers International LLC’s fleet. The fleet comprises TI Africa, TI Europe, TI Oceania, and TI Asia. The tonnage of the TI range amounts to 234,006 GT and possess a length of 256 feet. They have the ability to cruise at 30.5 kilometres per hour when fully loaded.
5. Harmony of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas is owned by Royal Caribbean and is the second-biggest cruise ship in the world. It offers cruises of the western Mediterranean for seven nights from Civitavecchia and Barcelona. The third vessel in the series was delivered in May 2016. Harmony of the Seas made its maiden voyage in the month of June 2020.
6. Knock Nevis
Knock Nevis is one of the heaviest and longest ships ever built. This oil tanker was a ULCC supertanker measuring 1,504 feet and having a gross tonnage of 260,941 GT. It had a cruising speed of 30 kilometres per hour. The ship was propelled by a single propeller having a diameter of 30 feet.
In the year 1988, it was heavily damaged and sank in the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq war. Knock Nevis was eventually recovered and repaired. It returned to active service later on with the name Happy Giant.
7. Turanor PlanetSolar
It is the world’s largest solar-powered boat and was launched in March 2010. Two years later, it became the first vehicle powered by solar energy to circumnavigate the globe. It was developed by the PlanetSolar team founded by the Swiss explorer known as Raphael Domjan. This boat has a length of 100 feet and a width of 50 feet. It has the ability to capture almost 103.4 kilowatts of solar energy to power its 20-kilowatt engine.