Monsters of the Sea
The ocean has always been a stage for the world’s greatest engineering feats.
From massive oil tankers and shipping container vessels to colossal cruise ships with amusement parks on board—these are some of the biggest ships the world has ever seen.
Seawise Giant
The Seawise Giant was a ULCC supertanker, and the longest self-propelled ship in history. It was built between 1974 and 1979 by Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Japan.
Seawise Giant: Weight Capabilities
The Seawise carried the greatest deadweight tonnage every recorded. Full loaded, her displacement was 657,019 tons.
Seawise Giant: Size
The Seawise Giant had a laden draft of 24.6 m (81 ft) and a length of 1,504.10 ft—longer than the height of many of the world's tallest buildings. Her size made her incapable of navigating the English Channel, the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal.
Seaswise Giant: Lifespan
The Seawise Giant served as an oil tanker shuttling large shipments from the Middle East to the USA. However, in 1988 it was a target of Saddam Hussein’s force and it sank.
In 1991 though, it was salvaged, fixed and put back to work until 2004 when it was deemed to difficult to maneuver and became a storage facility in Norway until it was sold for scrap in 2010.
Nils Koch, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
OOCL Spain
In 2023, Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd (OOCL) introduced the first 24,188 TEU mega vessel to its fleet—a shipping container ship.
OOCL Spain: Size & Weight Capabilities
The OOCL Spain is just shy of 400 meters long (1312.34 ft) and is capable of carrying up to 235,341 tons, putting it in the ranks of the world's largest shipping vessels.
OOCL Spain: Significance
The OOCL is one of the few ships in the world with a carrying capacity of over 24,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units or standard shipping containers), giving it a significant presence in the shipping world.
MSC Irina, MSC Loreto, and MSC Michel Cappellini
The current largest capacity shipping container ship in the world goes to the MSC Irina, along with its twins: the MSC Loreto and MSC Michel Cappellini.
Capacity
These magnificent vessels have a carrying capacity of 24,346 TEU. As some of the largest ships ever constructed, these additions to the MSC fleet significantly add to their staggering logistical potential.
Significance
With the combination of these three mega-ships, the MSC company can ship 22.5 million TEU every year, combined with its fleet of over 700 ships of all sizes.
MSC currently holds the record for largest shipping vessel in the world.
Fajar Agung Purianto, Shutterstock
MSC Gülsün
Another MSC vessel breaking world records is the MSC Gülsün. Known for its length, capacity, and speed capabilities.
kees torn, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
MSC Gülsün: Capabilities
The MSC Gülsün has a total length that's just shy of 400 meters. It has a deadweight carrying capacity of 228,149 tons and a top speed of 21 knots.
kees torn, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
MSC Gülsün: Accommodations
When fully loaded, the MSC Gülsün can accommodate 23,756 shipping containers, and includes 2,000 refrigeration slots to ensure the safety of temperature-controlled goods.
kees torn, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
MSC Gülsün: Engine
In order to be able to transport such massive amounts of goods across the globe, the ship needs a great deal of power.
The MSC Gülsün is equipped with a MAN Diesel 11G95ME-C engine. One of the largest in the world, the engine measures approximately 22 meters in length and 18 meters in height.
kees torn, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Icon of the Seas
The Icon of the Seas is owned and operated by Royal Caribbean, and is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. In fact, it is five times the size of the Titanic. It set out on its maiden voyage in January of 2024—breaking several world records.
Jouni Niskakoski, Shutterstock
Icon of the Seas: Capacity
The Icon of the Seas has 20 decks, 18 of which are solely dedicated to guests. There are over 2,800 different rooms of varying sizes and can accommodate a total of 5,610 guests (not including staff).
Chakie2, CC BY-SA 4.0 ,Wikimedia Commons
Icon of the Seas: Size & Engine Capabilities
The Icon of the Seas is 364.75 metres (1,196.7 ft) in length. It has six multi-fuel Wärtsilä engines; these can be powered with both LNG and distillate fuel.
Kahunapule Michael Johnson, CC BY-SA 2.0 ,Wikimedia Commons
Icon of the Seas: Record Breaking Features
This magnificent cruise ship boasts the tallest waterfall, the tallest water slide, the largest swim up bar, and the largest waterpark of any cruise ship. It also has the first suspended infinity pool of any ship.
Jouni Niskakoski, Shutterstock
Icon of the Seas: Other Features
It also has a diving dome, an art installation, an ice-skating rink, a family neighborhood, a casino, zip lines, seven pools and six waterslides.
Felix Mizioznikov, Shutterstock
USS Gerald R. Ford
The USS Gerald R. Ford is an American aircraft carrier, and an engineering wonder. Debuting in 2023, it’s the leading modern warship of its class, and the world's largest aircraft carrier.
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins, Wikimedia Commons
USS Gerald R. Ford: Size and Capabilities
It measures about 333 meters in length, and can hold over 4,500 crew members and support staff, a full wing complement (75 aircraft), and support ground vehicles.
Official U.S. Navy Page, Flickr
USS Gerald R. Ford: Design
The USS Gerald R. Ford was designed with advanced new weapons systems and a new electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) that allows for a greater variety of planes to be launched from its deck.
Rama, CC BY-SA 3.0 FR , Wikimedia Commons
Symphony of the Seas
Another record-breaking cruise ship by Royal Caribbean is the Symphony of the Seas. This ship is designed with luxurious entertainment in mind.
Symphony of the Seas: Capacity
The Symphony of the Seas has 18 decks, 24 elevators, and can accommodate a whopping 6,680 guests and 2,200 staff members.
bvi4092, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Symphony of the Seas: Engine Capabilities
The Symphony of the Seas has six engines in total: three 16-cylinder Wärtsilä 16V46D and three 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 12V46D engines.
Each engine is approximately the size of a shipping container and all work together to power the colossal ship.
Symphony of the Seas: Features
The Symphony of the Seas boats an array of luxury amenities, such as spas, gardens, several pools and waterslides, an amusement park, playgrounds, theaters, and so much more.
Wonder of the Seas
Royal Caribbean did it again with another colossal cruise ship breaking records. The Wonder of the Seas surpasses the previous cruise ship mentioned, Symphony of the Seas, in size. It’s often referred to as a “floating city.”
Jörg Fuhrmann, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Wonder of the Seas: Capacity
The Wonder of the Seas measures 1,188 feet (362 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 236,857 across 18 decks. It has a guest capacity of 5,734 and a crew of 2,300.
Wonder of the Seas: Features
The Wonder of the Seas has everything you could possibly imagine.
There are eight different neighborhoods on board, each boasting impressive amenities such as: a waterpark, a playground, a full-size basketball court, a zip line, a theater, rock-climbing walls, dog parks, and an on-board central park with more than 10,000 plans and flowers.
Dockwise Vanguard/BOKA Vanguard
The Dockwise Vanguard—also known as the BOKA Vanguard—is a semisubmersible heavy-lift ship, and is the largest vessel of its kind ever built. It’s like the biggest and baddest tow truck of the sea.
kees torn, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Dockwise Vanguard: How It Works
The Dockwise Vanguard operates by taking on water as a ballast, allowing it to sink slightly and creating a space in its docking bay where it can then maneuver a ship in to secure it.
Once secured, the ship pumps out the ballast and lifts the other ship out of the water, safely within the Dockwise Vanguard.
MEOGLOBAL Muhammed Enes Okullu, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Dockwise Vanguard: Size
The ship has a flat, bow-less deck measuring 70 by 275 m (230 by 902 ft), allowing cargo longer and wider than the deck. Her deck is 70% larger than the MV Blue Marlin, the third-largest heavy-lift ship.
She can lift and transport cargoes up to 110,000 tons.
Dockwise Vanguard: Significance
The Dockwise Vanguard may not be the largest vessel in the water, but the sheer fact that it can carry vessels bigger than itself is amazing enough—including the insanely large cruise ships mentioned in this list.
Riekelt Hakvoort, Shutterstock
Evergreen Ever Apex
The Evergreen Ever Apex is Evergreen’s latest addition, launched in 2022. While it matches the same size and capabilities of it’s A-type siblings, it does have notable changes.
picture alliance, Getty Images
Evergreen Ever Apex: Size & Capabilities
The Ever Apex is just shy of 400 meters in length and is capable of carrying approximately 225,000 tons—which is the equivalent of hauling the weight of 45,000 elephants.
Wolfgang Fricke, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Evergreen Ever Apex: Significance
Evergreen’s A-type vessels are known as the largest of their kind in the world, carrying massive amounts of weight seamlessly through the sea. The Ever Apex is no different than its siblings, standing as a testament to human engineering.
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