These huge monsters walk the seas and fly in the sky. They weigh hundreds of tons, cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and some of them are almost half a kilometer long.
Container ship Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller
The world's largest container ship Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller set out on its maiden voyage on July 15, 2013.
Its length is 400 meters, width - 59 meters, capacity - 18,000 containers, carrying capacity - 165 thousand tons.
The world's first floating plant
Royal Dutch Shell has begun building the world's first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. The plant will be located at the Prelude field off the coast of Australia, and after its production it will be able to move to another field. According to expert estimates, the cost of building the world's first floating LNG plant could be up to $5 billion 600,000 tons, almost half a kilometer in length (488 meters) - this giant will displace six times more water than the largest aircraft carrier.
Semi-submersible vessel Dockwise Vanguard
Dockwise Vanguard is the largest and most innovative semi-submersible vessel in history. It is 275 m long and 70 m (230 ft) wide. Loading capacity reaches 110 thousand tons.
The vessel was developed by Dockwise for the transport of dry cargo and for use as a dry dock.
By the way, it will be used to remove the wreckage of the Costa Concordia from the Italian island of Giglio.
Nimitz-class aircraft carriers
Nimitz class aircraft carriers are a type of American aircraft carrier with a nuclear power plant. The Nimitz aircraft carriers, with a maximum displacement of up to 106 thousand tons, are the largest warships in the world.
They are designed to operate as part of carrier strike groups and engage large surface targets, provide air defense for naval formations, and also for conducting air operations.
The lead ship of the series has a length of 333 meters, a displacement of 106,000 tons, as well as 2 nuclear reactors and a power of 260,000 hp.
Longest passenger aircraft
Boeing 747-8 is a double-deck passenger aircraft developed by Boeing. Announced in 2005, the airliner is a new generation of the famous Boeing 747 series with a stretched fuselage, redesigned wing and improved cost efficiency.
The 747-8 is the largest commercial aircraft built in the United States, as well as the longest passenger aircraft in the world, exceeding the length of the Airbus A340-600 by almost a meter.
The cost of one aircraft is 250 million dollars, length is 76.4 meters. The first commercial owner of the passenger version was the German Lufthansa on April 25, 2012.
The largest passenger aircraft in the world
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck four-engine jet passenger aircraft created by Airbus S.A.S. - the largest serial airliner in the world (height - 24.08 meters, length - 72.75 meters, wingspan - 79.75 meters).
The maximum take-off weight is 560 tons (the weight of the aircraft itself is 280 tons). Today, the A380 is also the largest passenger airliner in the world.
In standard configuration, it seats 525 passengers, which is almost 100 people more than the next largest competitor, the Boeing 747. The cost of one aircraft is $389.9 million.
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is an American strategic military transport aircraft. Currently, aircraft of this type are in service with the US Air Force and six other countries.
The maximum take-off weight is 265 tons (the weight of the aircraft itself is 122 tons).
The cost of one aircraft is $316 million.
Yamato - the largest battleship in history
All information on the Yamato type of battleship was so classified that the true characteristics of these ships became known to Japan's enemies only after the war.
The length of the battleship is 263 meters, width is 39 meters, displacement is 73 thousand tons. The huge displacement allowed the designers to equip the Yamato-class battleships with the largest 460 mm caliber guns in recent history. They gave the ships exceptional firepower.
The giant currently rests on the ocean floor off the southern island of Kyushu, Japan.
An-225 "Mriya"
The An-225 is the heaviest cargo-lifting aircraft ever taken into the air. The only aircraft superior to the An-225 in terms of wingspan is the Hughes H-4 Hercules, which belongs to the class of flying boats and flew only once in 1947
The empty weight of the aircraft is 250 tons, the maximum take-off weight is 640 tons. "Mriya" is a record holder for the weight of cargo transported: commercial - 247 tons, commercial monocargo - 187.6 tons, and an absolute record for carrying capacity - 253.8 tons. In total, this aircraft holds about 250 world records.
Currently, one copy is in flight condition and is operated by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines.
Supertanker Knock Nevis - the largest ship in the world
Its dimensions were: 458.45 meters long and 69 meters wide, which made it the largest ship in the world.
Built in 1976, in recent years it was used as a floating oil storage facility, then delivered to Alang (India), where it was disposed of in 2010. One of the giant's 36-ton main anchors was preserved and is now on display at the Maritime Museum in Hong Kong.
The largest cruise ship in the world
Allure of the Seas is the second Oasis class cruise ship owned by Allure of the Seas Inc. It was built in 2010. Along with its sister ship, Oasis of the Seas is the largest passenger ship in the world as of November 2010: both cruise ships are approximately 360 m long (depending on temperature), with Allure of the Seas being 5 cm longer than its sister.
This is a real floating city. Crew - 2,100 people, number of passengers - 6,400.
Against the background of this giant, the famous Titanic will seem “baby”: the length of the Titanic is 269 meters versus 360 meters for the Allure of the Seas. The displacement of the Titanic was 52 tons, that of the Allure of the Seas was 225 tons.
When it comes to big ships, the first thing that comes to mind is the Titanic. It can certainly be classified as one of the most famous ships that crashed on its first voyage. But there are other huge ships that most people have never even heard of. We invite you to get acquainted with the largest ships in the history of shipbuilding, some of them still sail the oceans, and some have long since been scrapped. The list is based on the vessel's length, gross tonnage and gross tonnage.
The TI class supertanker Oceania is one of the most beautiful vessels designed for oil transportation. There are four such supertankers in the world. The Oceania's gross payload capacity is 440 thousand tons, with the ability to reach speeds of up to 16-18 knots. The length of the vessel is 380 meters.
Berge Emperor was the largest oil tanker launched by Mitsui in 1975 and one of the largest tankers in the world. The weight of the vessel is 211360 tons. The first owner was Bergesen d.y. & Co, but then in 1985 the tanker was sold to Maastow BV, where it received a new name. He served there for only a year, and then he was sent for scrap.
Named after Alexander von Humboldt, the CMA CGM is an Explorer-class container ship. It was the largest container ship in the world until the Maersk Triple E class appeared. Its length is 396 meters. The gross lifting capacity is 187,624 tons.
In the list of the largest ships, Emma Maersk ranks second among the ships still in service. This is the first E-class container ship of eight owned by the A. P. Moller-Maersk Group. It was launched into the water in 2006. The vessel is capable of approximately 11 thousand TEUs. Its length is 397.71 meters.
The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller is a leading E-class container ship. It has the largest cargo capacity in the world and is also the longest vessel in 2013. Its length is 399 meters. Maximum speed - 23 knots with a load capacity of 18270 TEU. It was built for Maersk at the South Korean plant Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.
Esso Atlantic is one of the most popular names in the history of large ships. The huge vessel, 406.57 meters long, has an incredible gross lifting capacity of 516,891 tons. She served 35 years primarily as an oil tanker and was scrapped in Pakistan in 2002.
Batillus is a supertanker built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the French subsidiary of Shell Oil. Its gross lifting capacity is 554 thousand tons, speed is 16-17 knots, length is 414.22 meters. This is the fourth largest ship in the world. It made its last flight in December 1985.
The world's third largest ship is named after the French politician, founder of the Elf Aquitaine oil company Pierre Guillaume. It was built in 1977 in Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the Nationale de Navigation company. The ship served for six years, and then it was scrapped due to incredible unprofitability. Due to its enormous size, its use was severely limited. It could not pass through either the Panama or Suez Canals. And the ship could not enter all ports. The gross load capacity was almost 555 thousand tons, speed 16 knots, length 414.22 meters.
The supertanker Mont was known by many names and was called the queen of oceans and rivers. The ship was built in 1979 at the Japanese shipyards of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. It was badly damaged during the Iran-Iraq War and was sunk because it was deemed beyond repair. But it was later raised and renovated, calling it Happy Giant. In December 2009 it made its last voyage. At that time it was the largest ship in the world, but it still retains the title of the largest tanker.
Prelude is the largest operational vessel in the world, built in 2013 in South Korea. Its length is 488 meters, width 78 meters. It is intended for transportation of liquefied natural gas. Its construction required 260 thousand tons of steel, and when fully loaded the weight exceeds 600 thousand tons.
Since ancient times, people have traveled the seas, gradually improving their ships. Modern shipbuilding is very developed, and the range of ships has become unusually 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.
The largest ship in the world until 2010 was the supertanker Knock Nevis, built in 1975 in the Japanese city of Yokosuka. Before changing several names, it had a simple number 1016. But the cyclopean dimensions actually ruined it - the tanker could not pass through either the Panama or Suez Canal, even in the English Channel it would have run aground, so it could move from ocean to ocean I could only do it in a roundabout way.
During the Iran-Iraq War of 1988, it was hit by an Iraqi missile and seriously damaged. As a result, the supertanker sank in the Persian Gulf offshore. After the end of the conflict, it was raised from the bottom and towed to Singapore, where they were able to restore it in 1991, giving it a new “optimistic” name, “The Happy Giant.” But no one needed it as a tanker, so it began to serve as a floating oil storage facility. Finally, in 2009, the “lucky one” was sent on its final journey to the Indian shores, where the following year it was cut into scrap metal.
2. Pierre Guillaumat
Deadweight - 555,000 tons.
. Length - 414.2 m.
. Year of construction - 1977.
. Last country of registration: France. Cut into scrap metal.
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 only about 5 years, after which it was mercilessly sent in 1983 to South Korea, where it was 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 into scrap metal.
At one time, this oil supertanker was also a deadweight champion. It was built in Japan, and made its first commercial route from Liberia, Africa, where the owner company 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 for him too - in Pakistan he was cut into scrap metal. He had practically a sister ship, the Esso Pacific, but, despite the “Pacific” name, it was smaller than its “Atlantic brother.”
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4. Emma Maersk
Deadweight - 156,900 tons.
. Length - 397 m.
. Year of construction - 2006.
. Last country of registration: Denmark. Still in use.
This is the first vessel of eight identical E-class container ships built by the Danish holding Moller-Maersk Group. At the time of her maiden voyage in 2006, she was the world's largest floating vessel. Emma Maersk transports a variety of cargo between Asia and America, passing through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar.
This ship does not have a 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. Repairs were needed, which were done quickly. In 2013, a new misfortune occurred - right in the middle of the Suez Canal, one of the power plants of the dry cargo ship 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, so the Pacific Ocean is closed to her (you can’t sail around Cape Horn there!).
5.TI Class
Deadweight - 441,600 tons.
. Length - 380 m.
. Year of construction - 2003.
. Last country of registration: Belgium. Still in use.
This double-hulled vessel had the largest deadweight and gross tonnage of its time. A total of four completely identical vessels 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 terminal platforms were made from “Asia” and “Africa” for storing and loading petroleum products, and since then they have been laid up near one of the Qatari offshore oil fields.
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6. Vale Sohar
Deadweight - 400 300 tons.
. Length - 362 m.
. Year of construction - 2012.
. Last country of registration: Marshall Islands. Still in use.
This vessel, one of the largest bulk carriers, is owned by the Vale mining company 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. Still in use.
This ship is part of the Oasis class of cruise ships, consisting of two twins (the second is 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 capable of carrying 6,296 passengers and 2,384 crew members. There are countless types of entertainment offered on board; this floating city has a golf course and an ice skating rink, a bunch of bars and shops, and even a park with exotic plants.
8.Queen Mary II
Deadweight - 19,200 tons.
. Length - 345 m.
. Year of construction - 2002.
. Last country of registration: Bermuda. Still in use.
This beautiful transatlantic cruise ship is one of the world's largest passenger liners. It is capable of transporting 2,620 passengers from the Old to the New World or back with maximum comfort. 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.
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9.Mozah
Deadweight - 128,900 tons.
. Length - 345 m.
. Year of construction - 2007.
. Last country of registration: Qatar. Still in use.
This vessel opens a new family of tankers in the Q-Max series, which specialize in transporting liquefied natural gas produced from fields off the coast of Qatar. It was designed and built in South Korea. A total of 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.
It is America's largest nuclear-powered strike aircraft carrier and the first to be nuclear-powered. It began operating in 1961. A series of six similar hulks was planned, but only the Enterprise was built. Its cost amounted to an incredible 451 million dollars, so even the bottomless US budget could not afford such expenses. In terms of 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 travel a million nautical miles during this time. In February 2017, the Enterprise was sent into honorable retirement - this was the first send-off for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for the American Navy.
The key criterion for allocating seats was the maximum length of the ship, but in some cases the choice also depended on the deadweight - the maximum weight that the ship can carry in order not to sink below the dangerous line (deadweight includes not only cargo, but also fuel, the mass of passengers , crew and provisions).
10. Mozah
Length: 345 m
Deadweight: 128900 t
Launched: 2007
Flag: Qatar
Status: in operation
Mozah is the first ship in the Q-Max family of tankers, whose purpose is to transport liquefied natural gas produced in fields near Qatar. Designed and built in South Korea. A total of 14 Q-Max ships are currently in operation.
Q-Max Mozah / ©Nakilat
9. QueenMaryII
Length: 345 m
Deadweight: 19189 t
Launched: 2002
Flag: Bermuda
Status: in operation
One of the largest passenger ships in the world, the transatlantic cruise ship Queen Mary 2 is capable of transporting up to 2,620 passengers across the ocean with all the associated amenities. Designed and built by the French company Chantiers de l "Atlantique. In addition to 15 restaurants, a casino and a theater on board, Queen Mary 2 also has the first ship planetarium.
Size comparison between Queen Mary 2 and Airbus 380, bus, car and person
Queen Mary 2 / ©Tronheim Havn
8.Allure of the Seas
Length: 362 m
Deadweight: 19750 t
Launched: 2008
Flag: Bahamas
Status: in operation
The Oasis class of cruise ships includes two sister ships, both of which are the largest of their class in the world. True, Allure of the Seas is still 50 millimeters longer than Oasis in the Seas, which is why it occupies eighth position. The maximum number of passengers that this liner can carry is 6296 people, and the crew is 2384. To list all the entertainment offered on board, you will need to write a separate article - this is a real floating city: from an ice skating rink, a golf course and many shops and bars to a whole park with exotic trees and other unusual plants.
Allure of the Seas / ©Daniel Christensen
7. Vale Sohar
Length: 362 m
Deadweight: 400315 t
Launched: 2012
Flag: Marshall Islands
Status: in operation
This vessel belongs to the family of the largest bulk carriers, which in turn belongs to the Brazilian mining company Vale. Designed to transport ore from Brazil to the USA. A total of 30 similar ships have already been built with deadweight varying between 380 and 400 thousand tons. Sohar is one of the ships of the family with the maximum deadweight.
Vale Sohar / ©Dmitry Lakhtikov
6. T.I.Class
Length: 380 m
Deadweight: 441585 t
Launched: 2003
Flag: Marshall Islands and Belgium
Status: 2 in operation, 2 converted into floating platforms
The TI Class double hull ships are currently the largest operating ships in the world by deadweight and gross cargo tonnage. A total of 4 identical ships were commissioned: TI Oceania, TI Africa (flying the flag of the Marshall Islands) and TI Asia, TI Europe (flying the flag of Belgium). In 2010, "Asia" and "Africa" were converted into floating storage and offloading (FSO) platforms and now serve one of the offshore oil fields near Qatar.
TI Asia (right) / ©Naviearmatori.net/Lillo
5. Emma Maersk
Length: 397 m
Deadweight: 156907 t
Launched: 2006
Flag: Denmark
Status: in operation
The first of 8 identical container ships of the E-Class series of the Danish company Moller-Maersk Group. In 2006, when Emma Maersk first set sail, the ship was the largest operating vessel in the world. Transports various cargoes between Northern Europe and Asia through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. This ship has a rather bad reputation: during its construction there was a major fire, and in 2013, as a result of damage to one of the engines, it lost control right in the Suez Canal. However, there was no talk of flooding, and control was restored. In Europe, Emma is criticized for using sulfur fuel.
Emma Maersk / ©Maerskline
4 . Esso Atlantic
Length: 406.5 m
Deadweight: 516891 t
Launched: 1977
Flag: Liberia
Once the world's largest ship by deadweight, the oil supertanker Esso Atlantic was built in Japan in the mid-1970s, but made its first voyage for its intended purpose from Liberia, under whose flag it was registered by Esso Tankers. Mainly engaged in the transportation of oil between Europe and the countries of the Middle East. In 2002, it was dismantled for scrap in Pakistan. There was also an almost identical ship, the Esso Pacific, but the Atlantic's deadweight was slightly higher, which is why it took fourth position.
Esso Atlantic / ©Photobucket/Auke Visser
3. Pierre Guillaumat
Length: 414.2 m
Deadweight: 555051 t
Launched: 1977
Flag: France
Status: dismantled for scrap
This supertanker was the largest in terms of deadweight among the family of almost identical French ships Batillus. Built by the French company Chantiers de l "Atlantique, it “lived” for only 5 years and was dismantled for scrap in South Korea in 1983; the same fate befell the rest of the family (Prairial, Bellamya, Batillus). Such a short service life is explained by the fact that The commercial usefulness of the supertanker turned out to be minimal: it could not pass through either the Suez or the Panama Canal.
Postcard featuring Pierre Guillaumat / ©Delcampe
2. Seawise Giant (Knock Nevis)
Length: 458.5 m
Deadweight: 564763 t
Launched: 1979
Flag: Sierra Leone (last country of registration)
Status: dismantled for scrap
Until recently, it was the longest ship in history. The Seawise Giant supertanker was so huge that its length was compared to the tallest buildings in the world. The ship could not fit into either the Suez or Panama Canals; even the English Channel turned out to be too big for the “Giant” in terms of tonnage. During the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, the ship was seriously damaged by an Iraqi Air Force missile while it was transporting Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf. As a result, the ship sank not far from the coast, but soon after the war the Norman International company was able to tow it to Singapore, where the ship was repaired and put back into service in 1991, with a new optimistic name - “Happy Giant”. Subsequently, the ship was turned into a floating platform, and in 2009, the “Giant” set off on its last journey - to the shores of India, where it was subsequently dismantled for scrap metal.
Comparison of the length of Seawise Giant (Knock Nevis) with the tallest buildings in the world
Jahre Viking is one of the former names of the Happy Giant ship / ©Didier Pin?on
1. Prelude
Length: 488 m
Deadweight: 600,000 t
Launched: hull only, 2013
Flag: not received yet
Status: under construction
Prelude is the world's first floating platform not only to transport, but also to produce and liquefy natural gas directly on board. Built by South Korean Samsung Heavy Industries for Royal Dutch Shell. Essentially a mobile gas processing plant, Prelude is already the largest floating structure ever created by man. By 2017, when the construction of all high-tech components on the hull is completed, it is planned to carry out the first drilling of the seabed off the coast of Australia.
Comparison of the length of the Prelude and the tallest buildings
Prelude body / ©AFP/Getty images
When it comes to big ships, the first thing that comes to mind is the Titanic. It can certainly be classified as one of the most famous ships that crashed on its first voyage. But there are other huge ships that most people have never even heard of. We invite you to get acquainted with the largest ships in the history of shipbuilding, some of them still sail the oceans, and some have long since been scrapped. The list is based on the vessel's length, gross tonnage and gross tonnage.
10. TI class supertanker
The TI class supertanker Oceania is one of the most beautiful vessels designed for oil transportation. There are four such supertankers in the world. The Oceania's gross payload capacity is 440 thousand tons, with the ability to reach speeds of up to 16-18 knots. The length of the vessel is 380 meters. 9. Berge Emperor
Berge Emperor was the largest oil tanker launched by Mitsui in 1975 and one of the largest tankers in the world. The weight of the vessel is 211360 tons. The first owner was Bergesen d.y. & Co, but then in 1985 the tanker was sold to Maastow BV, where it received a new name. He served there for only a year, and then he was sent for scrap. 8. CMA CGM Alexander von Humboldt
Named after Alexander von Humboldt, the CMA CGM is an Explorer-class container ship. It was the largest container ship in the world until the Maersk Triple E class appeared. Its length is 396 meters. The gross lifting capacity is 187,624 tons. 7. Emma Maersk
In the list of the largest ships, Emma Maersk ranks second among the ships still in service. This is the first E-class container ship of eight owned by the A. P. Moller-Maersk Group. It was launched into the water in 2006. The vessel is capable of approximately 11 thousand TEUs. Its length is 397.71 meters. 6. Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller
The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller is a leading E-class container ship. It has the largest cargo capacity in the world and is also the longest vessel in 2013. Its length is 399 meters. Maximum speed - 23 knots with a load capacity of 18270 TEU. It was built for Maersk at the South Korean plant Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. 5. Esso Atlantic
Esso Atlantic is one of the most popular names in the history of large ships. The huge vessel, 406.57 meters long, has an incredible gross lifting capacity of 516,891 tons. She served 35 years primarily as an oil tanker and was scrapped in Pakistan in 2002. 4. Batillus
Batillus is a supertanker built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the French subsidiary of Shell Oil. Its gross lifting capacity is 554 thousand tons, speed is 16-17 knots, length is 414.22 meters. This is the fourth largest ship in the world. It made its last flight in December 1985. 3. Pierre Guillaumat
The world's third largest ship is named after the French politician, founder of the Elf Aquitaine oil company Pierre Guillaume. It was built in 1977 in Chantiers de l’Atlantique for the Nationale de Navigation company. The ship served for six years, and then it was scrapped due to incredible unprofitability. Due to its enormous size, its use was severely limited. It could not pass through either the Panama or Suez Canals. And the ship could not enter all ports. The gross load capacity was almost 555 thousand tons, speed 16 knots, length 414.22 meters. 2. Seawise Giant
The supertanker Mont was known by many names and was called the queen of oceans and rivers. The ship was built in 1979 at the Japanese shipyards of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. It was badly damaged during the Iran-Iraq War and was sunk because it was deemed beyond repair. But it was later raised and renovated, calling it Happy Giant. In December 2009 it made its last voyage. At that time it was the largest ship in the world, but it still retains the title of the largest tanker. 1. Prelude FLNG
Prelude is the largest operational vessel in the world, built in 2013 in South Korea. Its length is 488 meters, width 78 meters. It is intended for transportation of liquefied natural gas. Its construction required 260 thousand tons of steel, and when fully loaded the weight exceeds 600 thousand tons.