The scale and value of the largest ships in the world can be quite surprising. Below are the 5 largest ships currently in existence.
Top 5 Largest Ships in the World
5. CMA CGM Jacques Saadé
CMA CGM Jacques Saadé is the largest container ship powered by liquefied natural gas. (Image: Dailyecho/Andrew Sassoli-Walker)
The CMA CGM Jacques Saadé is the first container ship designed to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) among a group of nine vessels of the same size. It is also the largest container ship powered by LNG.
This ship is named in honor of Jacques Saadé, the late founder of the CMA CGM Group.
Measuring 399.9 meters in length, it incorporates numerous innovations, with a bridge equipped with state-of-the-art digital technologies. These advancements are designed to assist the command and crew, especially during port maneuvers.
Additionally, the beam of the ship’s deck is nearly 2.5 times that of an Olympic swimming pool, and it set a world record for the highest number of containers loaded onto a single vessel.
Despite its massive size, the ship is designed for high operational efficiency and can travel at speeds of up to 22 knots.
Jacques Saadé is equipped with modern technology, including an advanced propulsion system and fuel-efficient engines. It also features an enhanced map display option for easier navigation.
4. Ever Given
The Ever Given has a total capacity of up to 220,000 tons. (Image: BBC).
This is one of the largest cargo ships in the world. The Ever Given measures 400 meters long, over 58 meters wide, and has a total capacity of up to 220,000 tons.
Experts say that if the Ever Given were to be stood upright, it would be approximately half the height of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai (UAE), and equal to the combined length of four standard international football fields.
The ship began construction in late 2015 and was completed in May 2018. By September of the same year, the vessel officially entered service.
The Ever Given was once stuck in the Suez Canal. (Image: USAtoday).
On March 23, 2021, while en route from Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia) to Rotterdam (Netherlands), the Ever Given became lodged in the Suez Canal, causing significant disruption to maritime traffic.
However, by March 29, 2021, the Suez Canal Authority reported that the Ever Given had been successfully refloated after extensive rescue efforts.
Following repairs in Qingdao (China), the ship resumed operations in November 2021.
3. MSC Gulsun
The MSC Gulsun can carry the equivalent of 23,000 standard containers. (Image: RaillyNews)
This container ship was launched in 2019 and is the largest of its kind in the world. It was built at the Geoje shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea, commissioned by MSC, the world’s leading shipping company based in Switzerland.
The MSC Gulsun measures nearly 400 meters in length, almost equivalent to four football fields combined, with a capacity of over 23,000 TEU. This vessel can carry the equivalent of 23,000 standard containers, enough to fill over 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
However, the MSC Gulsun is not only notable for its size and capacity; it is also considered a marvel of modern technology. With its advanced engines, it is among the most fuel-efficient ships of its type.
Notably, the beam of the ship’s deck is over 60 meters, nearly the width of a modern aircraft carrier.
2. Ever Alot
The Ever Alot can carry 240,000 tons of cargo at once. (Image: porttechnology).
According to the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), after being launched in late June 2022, the Ever Alot is considered the largest cargo-carrying vessel in the world. It is also the first vessel to break the 24,000 TEU threshold.
The Ever Alot measures nearly 400 meters in length, 61.5 meters in width, with a deck area of 24,000 square meters, approximately the size of 3.5 standard football fields. This ship can carry 240,000 tons of cargo at once, equivalent to 24,000 standard containers over 6 meters long.
Compared to other 23,000 TEU vessels that use conventional fuel, the Ever Alot employs engine optimization technology combined with a gas treatment system to limit emissions of pollutants while also conserving energy.
1. Prelude FLNG
Prelude FLNG is both the largest offshore vessel and the largest floating LNG platform in the world. (Image: Shellglobal).
The Prelude FLNG is the largest offshore vessel ever constructed and also the largest floating LNG platform in the world. This gigantic ship measures 674 meters in width and 488 meters in length. This means it is longer than four Airbus A380 aircraft lined up end to end.
Experts estimate that the Prelude FLNG weighs about 600,000 tons, surpassing even the largest aircraft carriers.
Despite its colossal size, the vessel is designed for high mobility. It can be relocated to various locations around the world as needed. However, this is not the most impressive feature of the Prelude FLNG.
The ship is equipped with modern technology that allows for the extraction, processing, and liquefaction of natural gas at sea. This not only reduces the need for onshore facilities but also enables the extraction of natural gas from remote or hard-to-reach locations.
