Widest Ship in the World: A Comprehensive Guide
The world of shipping is constantly evolving, with new and bigger ships being built to meet the growing demand for global trade and tourism.
Among the various types of ships, one of the most impressive is the widest ship in the world, which can span more than 200 feet across.
But what is the widest ship in the world, and how does it compare to other large vessels?
In this article, we will explore the answer to this question, as well as look at some of the other biggest ships in the world by different criteria.
Top 10 Widest Ships in the World
The width of a ship is also known as its beam, and it is measured at the widest point of the hull.
The beam affects the stability, manoeuvrability, and capacity of a ship.
The wider the beam, the more stable the ship is in rough seas, but also the more difficult it is to navigate through narrow channels or ports.
The widest ships in the world are usually oil tankers, gas carriers, or crane vessels, which need a large beam to carry heavy or bulky cargo.
Here are the top 10 widest ships in the world as of 2023:
Top Three
- Pioneering Spirit: This is a crane vessel that can lift and install oil platforms at sea. It has a beam of 407 feet (124 meters), making it the widest ship in the world by far. It also has a length of 1,253 feet (382 meters) and a gross tonnage of 403,342. It was launched in 2013 and is operated by Allseas Group
- Seawise Giant: This was an oil tanker that was attacked by Iraqi missiles in 1988 and sank in the Gulf. It was later salvaged and repaired and became the longest ship ever built at 1,504 feet (458 meters). It also had a beam of 226 feet (69 meters), making it the second-widest ship in the world. It had a deadweight of 564,763 tonnes and a gross tonnage of 260,941. It was decommissioned in 2009 and scrapped in 2010.
- Prelude FLNG: This is a floating liquefied natural gas facility that is moored off the coast of Australia. It has a beam of 243 feet (74 meters), making it the third widest ship in the world. It also has a length of 1,601 feet (488 meters) and a gross tonnage of 600,000. It was launched in 2013 and is operated by Shell.
Top Five
- TI Class Supertankers: These are four oil tankers that were built between 2002 and 2003. They have a beam of 223 feet (68 meters), making them the fourth widest ships in the world. They also have a length of 1,246 feet (380 meters) and a deadweight of 441,585 tonnes. They are named TI Africa, TI Asia, TI Europe, and TI Oceania. They are operated by Euronav and Overseas Shipholding Group.
- Batillus Class Supertankers: These were four oil tankers that were built between 1976 and 1979. They had a beam of 223 feet (68 meters), making them tied with the TI Class for the fourth widest ships in the world. They also had a length of 1,359 feet (414 meters) and a deadweight of 553,662 tonnes. They were named Batillus, Bellamya, Pierre Guillaumat, and Prairial. They were all scrapped between 1985 and 2003.
Bottom Five
- Emma Maersk: This is a container ship that was built in 2006. It has a beam of 184 feet (56 meters), making it the sixth widest ship in the world. It also has a length of 1,302 feet (397 meters) and a capacity of 15,200 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). It is operated by Maersk Line and sails on the Asia-Europe route.
- MSC Gülsün: This is a container ship that was built in 2019. It has a beam of 202 feet (62 meters), making it the seventh widest ship in the world. It also has a length of 1,312 feet (400 meters) and a capacity of 23,756 TEU. It is operated by MSC and sails on the Asia-Europe route.
- HMM Algeciras: This is a container ship that was built in 2020. It has a beam of 202 feet (62 meters), making it tied with MSC Gülsün for the seventh widest ship in the world. It also has a length of 1,312 feet (400 meters) and a capacity of 23,964 TEU. It is operated by HMM and sails on the Asia-Europe route.
Bottom Two
- Ever Ace: This is a container ship that was built in 2021. It has a beam of 202 feet (62 meters), making it tied with MSC Gülsün and HMM Algeciras for the seventh-widest ship in the world. It also has a length of 1,312 feet (400 meters) and a capacity of 23,992 TEU. It is operated by Evergreen Marine and sails on the Asia-Europe route.
- Ever Alot: This is a container ship that was built in 2022. It has a beam of 202 feet (62 meters), making it tied with MSC Gülsün, HMM Algeciras, and Ever Ace for the seventh-widest ship in the world. It also has a length of 1,312 feet (400 meters) and a capacity of 24,004 TEU. It is operated by Evergreen Marine and sails on the Asia-Europe route
Largest Ship in the World 2023
The largest ship in the world can be measured by different criteria, such as length, gross tonnage, or passenger capacity.
The longest ship ever built was the Mont, an oil tanker that was decommissioned in 2009.
One largest warships in the world is the Nimitz-Class Carrier, a 1092-foot-long floating city.
The largest ship in the world in 2022 is the FLNG Prelude, a 1600-foot-long liquefied natural gas facility in Australia.
The largest cruise ship in the world is the Symphony of the Seas, a few feet longer than its sister ship Oasis of the Seas.
As of 2023, the largest ship in the world by gross tonnage is expected to be the Icon of the Seas, a cruise ship that will be launched by Royal Caribbean International.
It will have a gross tonnage of 250,800 and a length of 1,188 feet.
The ship will be able to accommodate up to 5,600 passengers and will feature innovative technologies such as fuel cells and air lubrication systems to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.
It will be the first ship of the Icon class, which will have three more vessels to be delivered between 2024 and 202611
Largest Cruise Ship in the World
The largest cruise ship in the world as of 2023 is the Wonder of the Seas, which was launched by Royal Caribbean International in 2022.
It is an Oasis-class vessel that has a gross tonnage of 236,857 and a length of 1,188 feet.
It can hold up to 6,988 passengers and 2,204 crew members.
The cruise ship features eight distinctive neighbourhoods, such as Central Park and Boardwalk, as well as various attractions such as:
- an AquaTheater
- a zip line
- a carousel
- a laser tag arena
- an Ultimate Abyss slide.
It also has nine complimentary restaurants and 12 speciality venues, as well as numerous bars and lounges.
It sails on the Asia-Pacific route, with ports of call in China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and South Korea
Widest Ship in the World 2020
The widest ship in the world in 2020 was the Pioneering Spirit, which has a beam of 407 feet.
It is still the widest ship in the world as of 2023.
However, there are some other ships that were launched or planned to be launched in 2020 that have wide beams as well.
Here are some examples:
- HMM Algeciras: This container ship has a beam of 202 feet and was launched in April 2020. It was briefly the largest container ship in the world until it was surpassed by Ever Ace in August 2021.
- Carnival Celebration: This cruise ship has a beam of 138 feet and is expected to be launched in November 2020. It is a sister ship of Carnival Mardi Gras and will have a capacity of 5,282 passengers.
- CMA CGM Jacques Saadé: This container ship has a beam of 200 feet and was launched in September 2019. It is the first container ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has a capacity of 23,000 TEU.
Largest Ship Ever Sunk
The largest ship ever sunk was the Seawise Giant, an oil tanker that was attacked by Iraqi missiles in 1988 and sank in the Gulf.
It had a length of 1,504 feet and a deadweight of 564,763 tonnes.
It was later salvaged and repaired and became the longest ship ever built.
The ship was decommissioned in 2009 and scrapped in 2010.
Largest Passenger Ship in the World
The largest passenger ship in the world as of 2023 is the Symphony of the Seas, which was launched by Royal Caribbean International in 2018.
It is an Oasis-class vessel that has a gross tonnage of 228,081 and a length of 1,188 feet.
It can hold up to 6,680 passengers and 2,200 crew members.
The ship features seven distinct neighbourhoods, such as Central Park and Boardwalk, as well as various attractions such as:
- an AquaTheater, a zip line, a carousel, a laser tag arena, and an Ultimate Abyss slide.
It also has 20 dining venues and 42 bars and lounges. It sails on the Caribbean and Mediterranean routes.
Biggest Cargo Ship in the World
The biggest cargo ship in the world as of 2023 is the Ever Ace, which was launched by Evergreen Marine in 2021.
It is a container ship that has a capacity of 23,992 TEU and a length of 1,312 feet.
It also has a beam of 202 feet and a deadweight of 219,079 tonnes.
The ship is powered by a MAN B&W engine that can reach a speed of 22.6 knots.
It sails on the Asia-Europe route.
What is the Largest Ship in the World?
The largest ship in the world can be measured by different criteria, such as length, gross tonnage, or passenger capacity.
Depending on the criterion used, the answer may vary.
However, based on gross tonnage, which is the most common measure of a ship’s size and weight, the largest ship in the world as of 2023 is the Icon of the Seas, a cruise ship that will have a gross tonnage of 250,800.
What is the Top 1 Biggest Ship in the World?
The top 1 biggest ship in the world as of 2023 is also the Icon of the Seas, based on gross tonnage.
However, if other criteria are used, such as length or capacity, then the top 1 biggest ship in the world may be different.
For example, based on length, the top 1 biggest ship in the world is the FLNG Prelude, which has a length of 1,601 feet.
Based on capacity, the top 1 biggest ship in the world is the Ever Ace, which has a capacity of 23,992 TEU.
What is the Largest Ship in the World by Length?
The largest ship in the world by length as of 2023 is the FLNG Prelude, which has a length of 1,601 feet.
It is also the largest ship in the world by gross tonnage, with a gross tonnage of 600,000.
What is the Maximum Size of a Ship?
The maximum size of a ship depends on various factors, such as:
- its design
- construction
- propulsion
- stability
- safety
- environmental impact.
There are also physical limitations imposed by natural or artificial obstacles, such as water depth, canals, bridges, ports, or docks.
Therefore, there is no definitive answer to what is the maximum size of a ship.
However, some experts have estimated that the maximum size of a container ship could be around 30,000 TEU or more.
While the maximum size of a cruise ship could be around 300,000 gross tons or more.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you some insight into what is the widest ship in the world and how it compares to other large ships in different categories.
As you can see, there are many factors that determine the size and performance of a ship.
There are many impressive vessels that have been built or are being built to meet the demands of global trade and tourism.
Whether you are interested in shipping, engineering, or travel, we hope you enjoy learning more about these amazing ships and their features.
