The world of maritime shipping has a special class of supertankers — these are true giants created for transporting oil over vast distances. Their construction history is a race of engineering thought, and their sizes still amaze the imagination. Unmatched Record Holder: The History of Knock Nevis The supertanker with the absolute record in size is known by various names, but is most often referred to as Knock Nevis or Seawise Giant. Its history is unique and dramatic. Ordered by a Greek magnate in 1979, the tanker was built by the Japanese company Sumitomo Heavy Industries and was originally named Oppama. After the customer's refusal, the ship was purchased by a Hong Kong shipowner, who demanded an increase in its size. Ultimately, in 1981, the giant was launched at 458.45 meters in length. For comparison, the height of the Eiffel Tower is 330 meters, making this tanker longer than it and many other well-known structures. The main characteristics of Knock Nevis are impressive: Length: 458.45 m Width: 68.8 m Deadweight (cargo capacity): 564,763 tons Capacity: over 4 million barrels of crude oil The deck area of the ship was so vast that crew members moved around it on bicycles. However, the enormous size also became a problem: the tanker could not pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, and the braking distance was almost 10 kilometers. The fate of the tanker was full of dramatic events. In 1988, during the Iran-Iraq war, it was attacked and sank off the coast of Iran. However, its history did not end there. The Norwegian company purchased the sunken ship, raised it, and completely restored it, investing millions of dollars. After the repair, it was renamed Happy Giant and then Jahre Viking. At the beginning of the 21st century, it served as a floating oil storage facility under the name Knock Nevis. In 2010, the giant was sent for scrapping to the city of Alang, India. It took over a year and 18,000 workers to dismantle it. Today, the only ... Read more