10 Longest Ships In The World

The world’s longest ships are described as those having an enormous overall length measured from the fore to the aft. In terms of length, some of the biggest ships in the world are container carriers, bulk carriers, and supertankers, which are responsible for the majority of shipping trade in the world.

These superstructures are the true marvels of engineering. Constructed with great insight, they are an amalgamation of style and seamless design. Most of these vessels do not flaunt a gigantic body but also unique environmentally sustainable features, making them even more attractive and popular than others of similar size. 

In this article, let’s look at the 10 biggest ships, categorised according to their length.

1. The Evergreen A Class containerships

The Evergreen A Class container ship is a series of 13 specialised vessels constructed for the Taiwanese company Evergreen Marine. 

Designated as the largest container ships in the world, they are one of a kind. Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea is constructing six such vessels, and the other seven are under construction in two Chinese shipyards by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

Evergreen
Image for representation purpose only

Two of this class’s biggest and most renowned ships are the Ever Alot and Ever Ace. 

The Ever Alot is titled the largest containership in terms of length and carrying capacity. Currently sailing under the flag of Panama, this behemoth measures 400 metres and has a 61.5 m breadth with a draft of 17 m. She has a 24,004 TEU carrying capacity. It is the 7th vessel of the class and the first to surpass the 24,000 TEU limit.

Ever Ace was the biggest container ship in the world until Ever Alot entered into service in 2022. Ever Ace measures 399.9 m and has a carrying capacity of 24,000 TEU. She has a cruising speed of 22.6 knots.

Other vessels of the class include- Ever Act, Ever Aim, Ever Alp, Ever Arm, Ever Art, Eve Apex, Ever Atop etc.

2. HMM Algeciras

HMM Algeciras is one of the 12 container ships belonging to the Megamax-24 container series. The number 24 refers to the number of containers placed across the ship’s width. Hence, 12 layers can be stacked below the deck and the other 12 above the deck. 

Algeciras measures 400 metres lengthwise and 61 m breadthwise. It has a carrying capacity of 23,964 TEU and is registered in Panama. The company had ordered the construction of seven such vessels from the Daewoo shipbuilding yard, and five were ordered from Samsung Heavy Industries. 

HMM Algeciras
Image for representation purpose only

The mega-container carrier is driven by a WinGD engine with a power of 60,580 kW, which allows it to reach a speed of 22.4 knots. It is also equipped with scrubbers which eliminate sulphur emissions from the vessel’s exhaust gases, helping to implement the international emission reduction guidelines.

It was the largest container ship in the world when it was launched in 2020 and had surpassed the MSC-owned Gulsun class ships. 

3. MOL Triumph

The container ship was constructed in 2017 by Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje, South Korea. It is 400 metres long and 59 m wide with a capacity of 20,170 TEUs. 

It broke the 20,000 TEU ceiling a few years ago and seemed impossible to break. It also has five sister ships belonging to the same class with similar physical dimensions. These include Tribute, Trust, Tradition, Truth and Treasure. 

MOL Triumph
Image for representation purpose only

Triumph was constructed for the shipping company Mitsui O.S.K Lines and was christened in South Korea on 15th March 2017. It was one of the biggest container ships at that time.

She has a summer draft of 16 metres and a deadweight of 192,672 tons. She is endowed with advanced energy-saving technologies such as low friction underwater paint, highly efficient rudder and propellors for reducing water resistance, and specially designed engines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

4. MV Barzan

Constructed in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Mokpo, South Korea, Barzan is a container carrier sailing under the flag of Malta. She is a DV GL classed vessel and the first to possess a ‘Gas Ready’ class notation. 

She has an 18,800 TEU carrying capacity and a draught of 11 m and is 400 m long and 58.6 m wide. Barzan has 199,744 tonnes DWT and a gross tonnage of 19,636 tonnes.

MV Barzan
Image for representation purpose only

She is one of the six such vessels ordered by the United Arab Shipping Company. Per its builder, Barzan’s carbon emissions are less than the Maersk Triple E Class vessels, and her Energy Efficiency Design Index is around 50 per cent less than IMO Limit fixed for 2025. 

Barzan translates to high in Arabic, and she was named after the observation towers in Qatar built 100 years ago by Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani, the founder of a village in Qatar. 

5. Pioneering Spirit

Earlier known as Pieter Schelte, the Pioneering Spirit is one of the world’s largest catamaran crane vessels, owned by Allseas Group, based in Switzerland. She has a twin hull and is 382 metres long and 124 metres wide.

It was constructed at DSME shipyard in South Korea between 2011 to 2014. She came into service in 2016 and undertook her first project in Norway.

Pioneering Spirit

It was designed for single-lift installation, removing enormous oil and gas platforms, and installing heavy pipelines. 

Pioneering spirit can easily lift entire topsides weighing up to 48,000 tons and jackets up to 20,000 tonnes. She can also work on bridges and modules. She can perform lifts using her eight sets of lifting beams which can be rotated, making them quite flexible.

Hence, she has reduced the offshore work related to installation and decommissioning and has moved the work onshore, making it safe and cheap.

6. Euronav Oceania

Euronav Oceania is one of the biggest crude oil tankers in the world. It was constructed in 2003 by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co.Ltd for a whopping 90 million dollars. 

The behemoth is sailing under the Belgian flag and has a carrying capacity of 441585 tonnes DWT. It has an LOA of 380 metres and is 68 m broad with a 14 m draught. 

Euronav Oceania
Credits: euronav.com

It was known by many names, like the seaways, Laura Lynn, Hellespont Fairfax, etc. However, it was named Euronav Oceania after its acquisition by the Euronav company. Its gross tonnage amounts to approximately 234006 tons. 

Its width surpasses that of the new gates of the Panama Canal. Hence it cannot pass through the canal unless on its ballast journey.

Euronav Oceania is double-hulled and can carry over 3 million barrels of oil and sails at an average speed of 16.8 knots. 

7. The Allure Of The Seas

It is an Oasis-class cruise ship owned by Royal Carribean International. It was delivered in 2010 and is the sister vessel of the Oasis of the Seas. 

The cruise liner weighs 12,000 tonnes and is 361 m or 1181 ft long and 213 ft tall from the waterline. It has a beam of 154 ft and is driven by three powerful Wartsila diesel engines with a cruising speed of 22 knots.

Allure Of The Seas
Credits: royalcaribbean.com

It has 16 decks and is spacious enough to accommodate 5400 guests in 2704 double-occupancy rooms and suites. It has a special neighbourhood with seven theme areas that can be booked per the passenger’s budget.

It has five luxurious dining rooms, theatres, a library and a business centre.

The ship boasts a vast fun and youth zone with gaming areas, theme parks, a children’s playground, spas and massage salons, a pool, outdoor bars, live music on the deck and much more.

8. Vale Brasil

MS Vale Brasil was ordered by Vale Shipping in 2009 and was launched on 31st December 2010. At that time, Vale Brasil became the biggest ship in the ‘bulk carrier’ category.

She is 362 metres long and 65 m wide with a gross tonnage of 198,980 tonnes. Her hull is 30.4 m deep, and she is one of the longest ships in the world. 

Vale Brasil has a gross volume of 219,980 m3 and has seven cargo compartments. Each one has the capacity equivalent to a small Panamax carrier and is filled by a loader with 13,500 tonnes per hour loading rate. Its DWT is 402,347 tons, and its net tonnage is 67,993 tonnes.

Vale Brasil
Image for representation purpose only

She has a 23 m draught when filled with iron ore equivalent to more than 11,150 trucks. Her draught restricts her to only a few European, Chinese and Brazilian ports. 

She has a single MAN B&W 7S80ME-C8 two-stroke diesel engine connected to a fixed pitch propellor. The vessel sails at an average speed of 15.4 knots. 

It was also awarded the Clean Ship Award at the 2011 Norwegian Shipping exhibition. She has 35% lower carbon emissions than older vessels of similar physical dimensions.

9. Q-Max Ships

The 14 Q-Max ships are the world’s largest LNG carriers owned by Qatar Gas and constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding, and Marine Engineering. They were ordered in 2005 and certified by Lloyd’s Register.

Their name is symbolic of the country of their operation and the maximum size of vessels that can be accommodated in Qatar’s LNG terminals.

Q-Max Ships

All Q-Max ships measure 345 metres lengthwise and 53.8 m breadthwise. They are 34.7 m high and have a 12 m draft. They have a 266,000 m3 LNG capacity and are equipped with two slow-speed diesel engines burning heavy fuel oil.

Their unique onboard re-liquefaction system reduces LNG loss and provides cost-effective and environmental benefits. 

The first Q-Max ship was known as Mozah, delivered in 2008. It also has sister vessels, namely the Al Mayeda, Bu Samra, Al Samriya, Al Dafna and so on.

10. Nimitz-class aircraft carriers

The Nimitz class consists of 10 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers worldwide, owned and operated by the US Navy. These warships have an overall length of 333 metres, a width of 77 m and a displacement of more than 100,000 tons. They were the biggest aircraft carriers until the USS Gerald R.Ford became operational. 

All ten vessels have slightly different physical characteristics. They have A4W pressurised water reactors for driving four propellor shafts to produce a sailing speed of up to 30 knots. 

Nimitz-class aircraft carriers
Image for representation purpose only

Due to nuclear power, the ships do not need to be refuelled and are expected to have a lifespan of more than five decades. Newport News Shipbuilding Company, Virginia, built all the ships. 

The first, USS Nimitz, was commissioned on 3rd May 1975, while the last one of the class was called USS. H.W Bush was commissioned in 2009. 

Apart from aircraft, these warships can easily carry short-range defence weapons for anti-aircraft warfare and missile defence.

You might also like to read.

Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared, or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight.

Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction

Article Footer Banner
Article Footer Banner

Web Stories

Subscribe To Our Newsletters

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *