Imagine structures taller than famous skyscrapers, yet able to traverse the open ocean. That’s the reality of the giant ship ecosystem used for transporting containers. They are modern marvels of maritime engineering that boggle the mind with their sheer scale.
Giant Ship Ecosystem
Leading the pack is the Ever Alot giant ship, operated by Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine. Part of the Evergreen A-class, this behemoth can theoretically carry 23,992 containers in a single voyage. Its gross tonnage of 233,000 makes it the third largest container vessel ever constructed. Evergreen ordered a full dozen of these giants, which stretch over 1,300 feet long.
But the Ever Alot is outclassed by Jacques Saadé, the largest container ship by gross tonnage at present. This 1,312 foot long, 200 foot wide giant ship was built in 2020 for CMA CGM at a cost of $133 million. It’s the first container ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), reducing emissions significantly compared to traditional fuels. Its specialized LNG engine generates power equivalent to 60 wind turbines.
Not to be outdone, the Mediterranean Shipping Company has raised the bar further with the MSC Arena. At 1,312 feet long and 201 feet wide, with a capacity for 24,346 containers, this giant ship currently claims the title of the largest container ship by 20-foot container unit (TEU) capacity. Two of these Huldon-type ships have launched so far, at an estimated $150 million each.
The construction of these giant ships is an impressive feat in itself. The CMA CGM ships were assembled in pieces using massive cranes to lift the steel hull sections into place. Layered insulation cocoons the LNG fuel tanks to maintain the required -260°F temperature. Final outfitting included hand-painting the distinctive blue and green exteriors.
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Conclusion
Beyond their jaw-dropping dimensions, every giant ship mentioned showcases human ingenuity in creating highly-optimized and environmentally-conscious vessels. They play a vital role in global logistics, transporting goods across oceans with incredible efficiency. As international trade volumes grow, we may see even larger container ships sail onto the horizon in the coming years.
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