The largest tankers in the world. The largest tanker: how oil is transported

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Let's return to our giant.

The most outstanding invention of mankind is oil tanker. The word itself comes from English word"tank" - tank. Sea tanker is a vessel designed to transport liquid cargo (oil, acid, vegetable oil, molten sulfur, etc.) in ship tanks (tanks). These sea vessels come in various sizes, but among them there is a special type - supertankers. These are the largest ships among tankers of such a type. They can carry 50 percent more oil on a single voyage than others, and have only 15 percent more operating costs for bunkering, crew, and insurance, allowing oil companies chartering the vessel to increase their profits and save savings. For such oil tankers there will always be demand.

Supertankers- generation scientific and technological revolution our time. They did not have any specific inventor, and with the development of science and technology, their creation became possible. On oil tankers The longitudinal hull framing system was tested, the engine room and all superstructures were moved to the stern. And the most important thing during their construction began wide application electric welding in shipbuilding, which later became the only way to connect metal hull structures.

Knock Nevis, a supertanker that was named at various times: Jahre Viking, Happy Giant and Seawise Giant.

Knock Nevis has a length of 458.45 meters, so to turn the tanker around reverse side you need at least 2 km if the turn was carried out using tugs. The ship has a width of 68.8 meters, to give a better idea - this is the approximate width of a football field.

The ship's upper deck could accommodate 5.5 football fields.

This is the largest operational ship ever created in the history of the planet. It also has its drawbacks, which essentially predetermined the tanker’s short existence. Its draft of 24.6 meters is, for comparison, more than a standard 7-story residential building.

The ship could not pass through the Suez and Panama Canals due to its enormous dimensions; moreover, it was not allowed to pass through the English Channel due to the risk of running aground.

Seawise Giant was the largest ship built in the 20th century. But the giant was built before the era of double-hulled tankers, which began with the Exxon Valdez disaster. It is unlikely that new tankers will exceed the size of the Seawise Giant; most likely, the palm will be taken over by floating cities - real floating cities, with housing, offices, and everything else that is available in the city. Some projects of such vessels are already being developed.

Seawise Giant began construction in 1979 at the request of a Greek tycoon, but he went bankrupt as a result of the oil embargo of the 70s. The ship was bought by Hong Kong tycoon Tung and financed its completion. However, Tung insisted that the deadweight be increased from 480,000 to 564,763 tons, making the Seawise Giant the world's largest ship. The tanker entered service in 1981, and initially transported oil from the Gulf of Mexico fields. Then he was transferred to transport oil from Iran. There, in the Persian Gulf, it was sunk.

In 1986, during the Iran-Iraq War, in the Strait of Hormuz, a tanker was attacked and sunk by Exocet missiles from the Iraqi Air Force. An Iraqi fighter fired an Exocet anti-ship missile at a unique tanker, which was then almost in the Persian Gulf (more precisely, in the Strait of Hormuz, lying between Iran and the UAE, leading to the Gulf).

She sank in shallow waters off Kharg Island, prompting her to be raised and taken to Keppel Shipyard in Singapore in August 1988 by her new owner, Norman International. Ship repairers replaced 3.7 thousand tons of crumpled steel.

Most likely, the company bought, raised and repaired the tanker mainly for prestige purposes. The refurbished Seawise Giant was renamed Happy Giant. By 1999, he again changed his owner and name - he was bought by the Norwegian Jahare Wallem and renamed Jahre Viking.

In March 2004, the giant got a new owner, First Olsen Tankers. Different times have already come, and given the age of the tanker, they decided to convert it into an FSO - a floating storage and loading complex, at the Dubai shipyards. After refitting, she was renamed Knock Nevis, and was then deployed as an FSO to the Al Shaheen field in Qatari waters.

Specifications supertanker Knock Nevis

Commissioned: 1976
Withdrawn from the fleet: 01/04/2010
Length: 458.45 m
Width: 68.86 m
Draft: 24, 611 meters
Power plant: steam turbines with a total capacity of 50,000 hp. With.
Speed: 13-16 knots
Crew: 40 people.

Weight of transported cargo: 564,763 tons

Another 6 ULCC (ultra large oil tanker) class tankers have surpassed the 500,000 dwt mark:
Battilus 553,662 dwt 1976 - 1985 (decommissioned)
Bellamya 553,662 dwt 1976 - 1986 (decommissioned)
Pierre Guillaumat 555.051 dwt 1977 - 1983(decommissioned)
Esso Atlantic 516,000 dwt 1977 - 2002(decommissioned)
Esso Pacific 516 dwt 1977 - 2002 (decommissioned)
Prairial 554.974 dwt 1979 - 2003(decommissioned)

Think about it: the giant’s braking distance is 10.2 kilometers, and its turning circle exceeds 3.7 kilometers! So, among other ships scurrying around these waters, this supertanker is like a bull in a china shop.

When the tanker needs to be brought to the oil terminal, it is taken in tow and pulled very, very slowly. It is easy to imagine what can happen if there is an error in maneuvering a ship weighing almost a million tons.

During its life, the supergiant tanker changed several owners and changed its name more than once - first to Happy Giant, then to Jahre Viking.

In 2009, the ship was transported to Alang, India, where it was forcibly stranded for disposal.

In 2010, the ship was scrapped.

At present

One of the representatives of this class sea vessels was oil tanker« Batillus" This cargo ship was created, from start to finish, according to the original design without additional modernization during operation. Nautical tanker from the moment of laying it was built in 10 months, and about 70,000 tons of steel were spent on construction. Construction cost the owner $130 million.

A tanker is a specialized cargo-type vessel that can be adapted for both sea and river routes. Water transport is designed for transporting liquid cargo. Ocean supertankers, which are used not only for transporting oil, but also for storing it, are considered the largest in their series.

One of the largest supertankers

Most large tanker in the world was launched from the stocks in 1976. Its creator was the Royal Dutch Shell company, and the ship itself was named Batillus. For the construction of a water vehicle About 70 thousand tons of metal and approximately 130 million dollars were spent. In 1973, there was a global oil crisis, as a result of which the cost of raw materials increased significantly. This led to a significant reduction in cargo turnover. The company that created the tanker had the intention of stopping, but the contract signed two years before the start of construction did not allow this. Breaking the agreement would entail significant costs. Today the only competitor of the vessel is in the world,

Technical characteristics of the vessel Batillus

Immediately after completion of construction, the ship performed only its minimum rate: It operated only 5 flights during the year. Since 1982, water transport has been idle for more time than it was used for its intended purpose. In 1982, the owner of the ship decided to sell it for scrap at a price of $8 million. The structure of the tanker included about 40 independent type tanks, the total capacity of which is 677.3 thousand cubic meters. Thanks to the division into compartments built into the design, the vessel could be used to transport several types of hydrocarbons simultaneously. The project reduced the risk of emergency situations and the likelihood of ocean pollution. Loading oil into the largest tanker in the world was carried out by four pumps with a capacity of approximately 24 thousand cubic meters per hour. total length the vessel was equal to 414 meters, and the deadweight (that is, the total carrying capacity) corresponded to 550 thousand tons. did not exceed 16 knots, and the duration of the voyage without refueling and resupply was 42 days. 330 tons of fuel per day were consumed to maintain the floating structure with four power plants.

Change of generations

After Batillus with two five-blade engines and 4 power 64.8 thousand Horse power was used as storage since 2004 and was scrapped in 2010, replaced by Knock Nevis. During its history, Batillus changed a huge number of owners, changed its name many times and was cut into scrap metal under the name Mont under the flag of Sierra Leone. The second largest tanker in the world is the Knock Nevis, the construction of which, like its predecessor, was completed in 1976. The ship acquired its enormous size three years later, after reconstruction. As a result of modernization, the tanker's deadweight approached 565 thousand tons. Its length increased to 460 meters. The ship's crew is 40 people. The tanker's engine turbines are capable of reaching speeds of up to 13 knots thanks to a total power of 50 thousand horsepower.

Seawise Giant, or the story of the Knock Nevis

The largest oil tanker in the world, which was built in the 20th century, is called Seawise Giant. The design of the vessel began before the era of double-decker tankers. At the moment, the vessel's analogues, according to experts, can only compete with floating cities with houses, offices and full-fledged infrastructure, the projects of which are just beginning to be considered by experts. Construction of the vessel began in 1976. Initially, its deadweight was supposed to be 480,000 tons, but after the bankruptcy of the first owner, tycoon Tung decided to increase its carrying capacity to 564,763 tons. The ship was launched in 1981, and its main purpose was to transport oil from fields to Iran. Later, the ship transported oil from Iran. During one of the voyages it was sunk in the Persian Gulf.

Magical rebirth

The largest oil tanker in the world, the Seawise Giant, was raised from the ocean floor near Kharg Island in 1988 by Keppel Shipyard. The new owner of the tanker was Norman International, which spent 3.7 thousand tons of steel to restore the vessel. The already restored ship changed owners again and began to bear the name Jahre Viking. In March 2004, ownership of it was transferred to First Olsen Tankers, which, due to the age of the structure, converted it into an FSO - a floating facility that was used only for loading and storing hydrocarbons in the Dubai shipyard area. After the last reconstruction, the tanker acquired the name Knock Nevis, under which it is known as the largest tanker in the world. After the last renaming, the vessel was towed in the role of FSO to Qatari waters to the Al Hashin field.

Knock Nevis Tanker Dimensions

The largest tanker in the world was named Knock Nevis. It became a kind of product of the scientific and technological revolution. As part of the design, a longitudinal hull framing system was used, and all superstructures were located at the stern. It was during the assembly of tankers that electric welding was first used. At different periods of its existence, the tanker was known as Jahre Viking and Happy Giant, Seawise Giant and Knock Nevis. Its length is 458.45 meters. To make a complete turn, the ship needed 2 kilometers of free space and the help of tugs. The transverse size of the water transport is 68.8 meters, which corresponds to the width of a football field. The ship's upper deck could easily accommodate 5.5 football fields. The tanker was withdrawn from the fleet on January 1, 2010; since then it has not only had no worthy competitor, but also simply no analogue.

The largest LNG tanker in the world

The largest LNG tanker is the ship called Mozah, which was commissioned to its customer in 2008. During construction, Samsung shipyards were used for Qatar Gas Transport Company. For three decades, LNG tankers have held no more than 140,000 cubic meters of liquefied gas. The giant Mozah broke all records with a capacity of 266,000 cubic meters. This volume is enough to provide heat and electricity to the entire territory of England for a day. The vessel's deadweight is 125,600 tons. Its length is 345 and its width is 50 meters. Draft - 12 meters. The distance from the keel to the hole corresponds to the height of a 20-story skyscraper. The design of the tanker included its own gas liquefaction unit, which minimized harmful fumes and almost completely eliminated the risk of an accident, ensuring 100% safety of the cargo. In the future, it is planned to design and launch a total of 14 vessels of this series.

The largest tankers in history

The largest tanker in the world is Chinese. As generations changed, so did the ships, which by now have already been decommissioned, but the country of origin remained the same.

There are only 6 ULCC class designs that managed to exceed the 500,000 dwt mark:

Battilus with a deadweight of 553,662. Period of existence from 1976-1985.
Bellamya with a deadweight of 553,662, sailed the oceans from 1976 to 1986.
Pierre Guillaumat, designed in 1977 and decommissioned in 1983.
Esso Atlantic with a deadweight of 516,000 and a lifespan from 1977 to 2002.
Esso Pacific (516,000 tons). Operating period: from 1977 to 2002.
Prairial (554,974 tons). Designed in 1979, withdrawn from flights in 2003.

But it was generally debatable whether it was a ship or a factory. And here is a real ship of slightly shorter length, but which is an ultra-large oil tanker.

On the Internet you will most likely find outdated information that the largest tanker in the world by deadweight is Knock Nevis. However, this is no longer entirely true and let's figure out why. During its existence, this supergiant has changed several names: Seawise Giant, Happy Giant, Jahre Viking, Knock Nevis, Mont. Moreover, it managed to change not only the name, but also the dimensions, as well as the scope of its application.

Let's start with history.

The ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Oil Carrier) Knock Nevis was designed by the Japanese company Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. (SHI) in 1974 and built at the Oppama shipyard in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. When built, the ship had a maximum length of 376.7, a width of 68.9 and a side height of 29.8 meters. Its deadweight was 418,610 tons. The tanker was powered by a Sumitomo Stal-Laval AP steam turbine that developed a power of 37,300 kW at 85 rpm. A 4-bladed constant pitch propeller with a diameter of 9.3 meters was supposed to provide the tanker with a speed of 16 knots (29.6 km/h). On September 4, 1975, the tanker was solemnly launched. For a long time the ship did not have a name and was named by the construction number of the hull - ship No. 1016. During factory road tests, extremely strong vibration of the body was revealed when the vehicle was in reverse. This caused the Greek shipowners to refuse to accept the vessel. The refusal, in turn, led to lengthy litigation between builders and customers. Eventually, the Greek company went bankrupt and the ship was taken over by SHI in March 1976 and named Oppama.

Its carrying capacity was 480,000 tons (typical modern oil tankers have a capacity of 280,000 tons).

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But apparently this was not enough for the Greek shipowner. And he ordered an increase in the size of the tanker. The Seawise Giant (as it was then called) was then cut in half and additional sections were added to the middle.

SHI, exercising its legal right as owner, sold Oppama to Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Line, owned by tycoon C.Y.Tung, who commissioned the shipyard to rebuild the tanker. It was planned to add a cylindrical insert to increase the vessel's deadweight by 156,000 tons. The conversion work was completed two years later, in 1981, and the refurbished vessel was handed over to the shipowner under the name Seawise Giant and raised the Liberian flag.

As a result of perestroika greatest length The vessel's draft was 458.45, the summer load line draft was 24.611 meters, and the deadweight increased to a record 564,763 tons (data from the classification society Det Norske Veritas). The number of cargo tanks increased to 46, and the main deck area was 31,541 sq. m. meter. When rebuilt, the monster had a fully loaded displacement of 657,018 metric tons, which along with its size made the Seawise Giant the largest ship ever to sail on Earth. True, the speed dropped to 13 knots. Seawise Giant's draft made the Suez and Panama Canals and the Pas-de-Calais Strait impassable for it.

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As it turned out later, it was precisely those figures that we mentioned above that became not only a plus, but also a minus of this giant. When fully loaded, the tanker sank almost 30 meters under water. You probably noticed this in the photographs.

Due to its size, the tanker could not pass through the Suez and Panama canals, and it was also prohibited from passing through the English Channel, since there was a high probability of running aground.

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In 1981, after all the work to increase the size was completed, Seawise Giant finally began to earn back the money invested in it. His route ran from the oil fields of the Middle East to the United States and back.

However, the Iran-Iraq War that was taking place at that time made its own adjustments to the life of the tanker. Since 1986, the ship has been used as a floating terminal for storage and further transshipment of Iranian oil. But this did not save the ship; on May 14, 1988, an Iraqi fighter attacked the Seawise Giant. An Iraqi fighter fired an Exocet anti-ship missile at a unique tanker, which was then almost in the Persian Gulf (more precisely, in the Strait of Hormuz, lying between Iran and the UAE, leading to the Gulf).

Photo 8.

The tanker received significant damage and lost all its oil. An uncontrollable fire broke out on the ship and the crew abandoned it. 3 people died. The tanker ran aground near the Iranian island of Larak and was declared sunk.

Immediately after the end of the Gulf War, the sunken Seawise Giant was purchased by the Norwegian company Norman International, most likely for reasons of prestige, raised and renamed Happy Giant. After being raised, in August 1988, she raised the Norwegian flag and was towed to Singapore, where she underwent repair and restoration work at the Keppel Company shipyard. In particular, about 3.7 thousand tons of hull structures were replaced. Before entering service in October 1991, ULCC was sold to the Norwegian shipping company Loki Stream AS, owned by Jørgen Jahre, for US$39 million, and left the shipyard under the new name Jahre Viking.

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The next changes in the life of the giant ship occurred in 2004. After the adoption of laws prohibiting the entry of tankers without a double side into the ports of the USA and Europe in 2004, Jahre Viking once again changed its owner and name. In March of that year, it was purchased by the Norwegian company First Olsen Tankers Pte. Ltd. and renamed Knock Nevis. From that moment on, his career as a transport ship ended. In Dubai, the ULCC was converted into a crude oil storage tanker (FPSO - Floating Production Storage & Offloading) and anchored at the Al Shaheed offshore oil field off the coast of Qatar.

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In 2009, the tanker once again changed its owner and name. Mont, as the ship was now called, sets off on its last voyage. His destination is India, or rather. There, over the course of several months, the tanker is cut into pieces and sent for smelting.

Photo 27.

It was sold to Amber Development Corporation for further disposal. The new owner renamed Knock Nevis Mont and raised the Sierra Leonean flag on it. In December 2009, he made his last crossing to the shores of India. On January 4, 2010, Mont was washed ashore near the Indian city of Alang, Gujarat, where its hull was cut into metal for a year.

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Technical characteristics of the supertanker Knock Nevis

Weight of transported cargo: 564,763 tons

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The only thing left of the world's largest ship is its 36-ton anchor, which is kept in the Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

Photo 25.

There was another giant. The tanker was produced in 1976 - it took 10 months, as well as approximately 70,000 tons of metal and Money in the amount of $130,000,000. Moreover, the tanker was built according to the original design, and there was no modernization during its use. This grandiose vessel made five voyages annually, but since 1982 it began to stand idle many times, and in 1985 its owners decided to sell the tanker for scrap. This ship was truly impressive in its size. It included forty tanks, the total volume of which was approximately 667,000 m3.

It was approximately 414 meters long and 63 meters wide. The deadweight was over 550,000 tons. Oil was pumped here using four pumps. This powerful tanker was driven by four steam turbines, each with a power of 64,800 hp. The speed developed by the tanker was 16 knots. During the day it consumed 330 tons of fuel. The crew working on the tanker consisted of 16 people.

Following the disposal of the giant, the largest supertankers are the four double-hulled TI-class ships: Oceania, Africa, Asia and Europe. They have a length of 380 m and surpass their competitors in deadweight - 441,585 tons.

Photo 26.

A representative of the Hellespont Fairfax series of tankers was built in 2002 for the Canadian shipping company Hellespont Group at the Daewoo Heavy Industry Ltd shipyard in South Korea, and is one of the largest tankers in the world in the ULCC (ultra-large oil tanker) classification. Next to it, an aircraft carrier will seem dwarfed, and in one voyage it will deliver enough crude oil to fill the fuel tanks of cars in a country like Canada to capacity. The creation of the Hellespont Fairfax tanker cost the owners $100 million. He became a wonder of the open seas and oceans. It was built by thousands of workers over a year and a half.

"Hellespont Fairfax" is a new generation of double-hulled tankers. Its size is shocking. It's as long as four football fields. Running around the deck is like a mini-marathon. With a reinforced double hull to prevent leakage, the vessel is capable of carrying seven times its own weight in oil. Assembling the tanker was a mammoth exercise in engineering. While the reason for a large ship is profit, behind the double hull is concern for environment. In the 1990s, legislators insisted that all new tankers must be built with two hulls. The outer casing absorbs the force during a collision, while the inner casing contains dangerous cargo. Thus began the evolution of ships that led to the creation of the Hellespont tankers.

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A total of four identical Hellespont supertankers were built, but they had different names and owners. In 2004, two vessels, Hellespont Fairfax and Hellespont Tapa, were acquired by Shipholding Group and were soon renamed TI Oceania and TI Africa respectively. At this time, the Belgian company Euronav H.B. acquired two other tankers, Hellespont Alhambra and Hellespont Metropolis, which were later renamed TI Asia and TI Europe.

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Modern tankers owe our geographical location. Oil is found on the Arabian Peninsula, and the people who need it most are the people North America and Europe. And a fleet of tankers has created a “bridge” between countries for more than half a century.

There are not many places in the world for such supertankers to come and unload. The route of the tanker Hellespont Fairfax began at the terminals of Saudi Arabia, then through the Cape of Good Hope to the Gulf of Mexico to the terminals in Houston. He covers this distance in five weeks. After unloading, the ship sails across the Atlantic to the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea, then through the Suez Canal to Saudi Arabia. The draft of a fully loaded vessel does not allow movement through the canal. Such delivery costs 400 thousand dollars, but the capabilities of the ship outweigh the costs.

Photo 30.

There are twenty-one tanks on board the tanker. The total capacity is 3.2 million barrels - enough to fill 15 thousand oil tankers. The tanks are divided for commercial reasons. They can transport different grades of crude oil. A special coating is applied to the vertical walls, which prevents sticky and greasy oil from sticking. The piping system is located on the upper deck to ensure that leaks are detected early and do not take up valuable cargo space.

The nine-cylinder and highly efficient engine was installed on this vessel for the first time. Conventional ships have seven cylinders, but the Hellespont tanker has greater power requirements. Crankshafts with pistons are directly connected to the propeller shaft, no neutral, first or other gears. Many ships have two or more propellers; this tanker has one with a diameter of 10.5 meters and a weight of 104 tons.

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The vessel is automated to such an extent that only one person can keep it on course. In addition, all systems are duplicated, since on long voyages the tanker is far from repair workers. Supertanker captains belong to a select group of seafarers, only the best sailors in the world are ready for such work - he is responsible for the safety of the cargo and for the lives of people. Video cameras are installed on board at five points for a better overview of the vessel. For the crew, the cabins are equipped in European style and there is even a small swimming pool. The ship will need 4.5 kilometers to come to a complete stop.

Basically, supertankers are unloaded through a pipeline several kilometers from the shore. As an addition to the safety of the ship from fire in the tanks, a fire extinguishing system is installed on board, which, between the hulls of the ship, distributes oxygen-depleted exhaust gases from the ship's engine, which does not allow the fire to develop, and over time it disappears due to the lack of a combustion source .

Photo 32.

The outer part of the deck is painted in a dazzling White color from excess heating and evaporation of valuable cargo. The crew is provided with extra dark glasses. The hull of the vessel is treated with seven layers of anti-corrosion and bonding coating from hitchhikers (clams, shells and others). The inside of the case is also coated with a protective anti-abrasive coating to combat rust. The vessel's service life is 40 years.-

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Hellespont tankers have truly become one of the most large ships in the history of shipbuilding. There are enough innovations put into them to be considered superships.

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Technical data of the Hellespont Fairfax tanker:
Length - 380 m;
Width - 68 m;
Draft - 24.5 m;
Displacement - 234,000 tons;
Marine propulsion system - diesel engine type "Sulzer 9RTA84T";
Power - 50220 l. With.;
Speed - 17.2 knots;
Crew - 37 people;

sources

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's why tankers are equipped with steam boilers with huge productivity.

Each time after raw materials are pumped out of the vessel, the tanks are thoroughly cleaned and degassed to prevent 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).
Enough 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 the 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 Japanese masters shipbuilding. It was launched in 1977. Under the flag of Liberia, he delivered 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 reworking 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.

The most outstanding invention of mankind is an oil tanker. The word itself comes from the English word “tank” - tank. A sea tanker is a vessel designed to transport liquid cargo (oil, acid, vegetable oil, molten sulfur, etc.) in ship tanks (tanks). These seagoing vessels come in various sizes, but among them there is a special type - supertankers. These are the largest ships among tankers of this type. They can carry 50 percent more oil on a single voyage than others, and have only 15 percent more operating costs for bunkering, crew, and insurance, allowing oil companies chartering the vessel to increase their profits and save savings. There will always be a demand for such oil tankers.

Supertankers are the product of the scientific and technological revolution of our time. They did not have any specific inventor, and with the development of science and technology, their creation became possible. On oil tankers, a longitudinal hull framing system was tested; the engine room and all superstructures were moved to the stern. And most importantly, during their construction, electric welding began to be widely used in shipbuilding, which later became the only way to connect hull structures made of metal.

1. Knock Nevis, a supertanker that was named at various times in its existence: Jahre Viking, Happy Giant and Seawise Giant. Knock Nevis has a length of 458.45 meters, so turning the tanker in the opposite direction requires at least 2 km if the turn was carried out using tugs. The ship has a width of 68.8 meters, to give a better idea - this is the approximate width of a football field.

2. The upper deck of the ship could accommodate 5.5 football fields.

3. This is the largest operating ship ever created in the history of the planet. It also has its drawbacks, which essentially predetermined the tanker’s short existence. Its draft of 24.6 meters is, for comparison, more than a standard 7-story residential building.

The ship could not pass through the Suez and Panama Canals due to its enormous dimensions; moreover, it was not allowed to pass through the English Channel due to the risk of running aground.

4. Seawise Giant began construction in 1979 at the request of a Greek tycoon, but he went bankrupt as a result of the oil embargo of the 70s. The ship was bought by Hong Kong tycoon Tung and financed its completion. However, Tung insisted that the deadweight be increased from 480,000 to 564,763 tons, making the Seawise Giant the world's largest ship. The tanker entered service in 1981, and initially transported oil from the Gulf of Mexico fields. Then he was transferred to transport oil from Iran. There, in the Persian Gulf, it was sunk.

5. Most likely, the company bought, raised and repaired the tanker mainly for prestige purposes. The refurbished Seawise Giant was renamed Happy Giant. By 1999, he again changed his owner and name - he was bought by the Norwegian Jahare Wallem and renamed Jahre Viking.

6. In March 2004, the giant got a new owner, First Olsen Tankers. Different times have already come, and given the age of the tanker, they decided to convert it into an FSO - a floating storage and loading complex, at the Dubai shipyards. After refitting, she was renamed Knock Nevis, and was then deployed as an FSO to the Al Shaheen field in Qatari waters.

Technical characteristics of the supertanker Knock Nevis

Weight of transported cargo: 564,763 tons

Another 6 ULCC (ultra large oil tanker) class tankers have surpassed the 500,000 dwt mark:
Battilus 553,662 dwt 1976 – 1985 (decommissioned)
Bellamya 553,662 dwt 1976 – 1986 (decommissioned)
Pierre Guillaumat 555,051 dwt 1977 – 1983 (decommissioned)
Esso Atlantic 516,000 dwt 1977 – 2002 (decommissioned)
Esso Pacific 516 dwt 1977 – 2002 (decommissioned)
Prairial 554,974 dwt 1979 – 2003 (decommissioned)

7. Think about it: the giant’s stopping distance is 10.2 kilometers, and its turning circle exceeds 3.7 kilometers! So, among other ships scurrying around these waters, this supertanker is like a bull in a china shop.

During its life, the supergiant tanker changed several owners and changed its name more than once - first to Happy Giant, then to Jahre Viking.

8. In 2009, the ship was transported to India to Alang, where it was forcibly stranded for the purpose of disposal. In 2010, the ship was scrapped.

19. Currently

One of the representatives of this class of sea vessels was the oil tanker Batillus. This cargo ship was created, from start to finish, according to the original design without additional modernization during operation. The sea tanker was built in 10 months from the moment of laying, and about 70,000 tons of steel were spent on construction. Construction cost the owner $130 million.

Technical characteristics of the tanker "Batillus";
Length – 414.2 m;
Width – 63 m;
Draft – 28.5 m;
Deadweight - 655,000 tons;
Displacement - 275276 tons;

Power point– four “Stal Laval” steam turbines, each with a power of 64,800 hp. With.;
Speed – 16 knots;
Crew – 26 people;

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