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Do you know which ships are among the largest in the world? Here’s a roundup of maritime giants – a container ship, an aircraft carrier, or a cruise ship. Learn more about the impressive dimensions and interesting facts about these floating giants!
(Un)submersible giant ship
The size and weight of the ships have long attracted attention. Since the days when the first watercraft sailed into uncharted waters, man has been trying not only to construct them, but also to build ever larger and more impressive models. One of the most important periods for the development of giant ships was the second half of the 19th century. It was at this time that the Titanic was constructed – a passenger ship the size of a palace, whose sinking ranked among the top maritime disasters of the modern era.
The Titanic was a 269-meter-long colossus with a displacement of nearly 50,000 tons. It could accommodate as many as 3,464 people on board, enjoying all the amenities offered by luxury hotels of the time. It was one of three Olympic-type ships – steam liners ordered by the shipowner White Star Line. The youngest of the three, the Britannic, also sank during one of its first voyages. Only the oldest Olimpic sailed the North Atlantic route for more than 20 years.
Cruise ship like from a movie
The new king of the oceans is the cruise ship Icon of the Seas. It is the largest passenger ship in the world, with a length of more than 364 meters and a displacement of more than 250,000 gross tons. The ship is capable of accommodating more than 7,000 guests, and Caribbean cruises will be operated by nearly 2,500 crew members. The Icon of the Seas will set sail on its maiden voyage from Miami, Florida as early as January 2024. The price of an Icon of the Seas cruise ranges from approx. 1,500 to 5,500 euros.
This huge cruise ship is also an unforgettable adventure for its guests – Icon of the Seas has plenty of sightseeing and entertainment activities to make your stay on board a fantastic experience. The cruise ship’s 20 decks include a huge floating water park, 7 swimming pools, 40 restaurants, theaters, nightclubs, and even an ice rink! It is an ideal place for both families and those looking for an active vacation or relaxation in luxurious conditions.
The largest vessels in the world
The largest ships in the world are not just giant cruise ships. Many of these colossi are now used by container lines and carry goods from one end of the world to the other. One of them is Ever Alot, a Chinese container ship 400 meters long and nearly 62 meters wide. It can carry up to 24,000 on board. containers, or as much as 240,000 tons of cargo. Fuel consumption has been kept to a minimum, making Ever Alot one of the greener machines of its kind.
Among the giant floating machines are aircraft carriers. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is impressive. The ship is 337 meters long and has a displacement of more than 100,000 tons. On its deck can fit up to 90 aircraft and helicopters! The largest ship sailing the oceans is FLNG’s Prelude, an eight-story tall natural gas production platform. Prelude is 488 meters long (or more than three football fields). However, even this size may cease to impress in the future.
Floating city
The world’s largest ships are the strength and power of today’s shipping. Their size is impressive, and each of these giants is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and all sorts of amenities for crew and passengers. However, there are already other projects on the horizon, at which the aforementioned colossi will not be as impressive. One of them is the design of a giant passenger ship called Pangeos, which will accommodate up to tens of thousands of passengers on board.
The ship is expected to be more than 500 meters long and 610 meters wide, and shaped to resemble a giant turtle. The designers intend it to be a floating city with exclusive villas and urban infrastructure in addition to luxury cabins. The cost of building the ship was estimated at 8 billion. dollars, but we will have to wait a little longer for the work to begin. A shipyard capable of accommodating such a huge structure is yet to be built, and construction of Pangeos will not begin until 2034 at the earliest.
