Part 3: Extreme Machines - sea

Knock Nevis

Knock Nevis is a big ship. The longest in the world, it turns out. At 458 metres from tip to tip, it surpasses the 443 metres Empire State Building. Even in an age of superlatives, it continues as the ultimate superlative, a ship so huge that four football fields could be laid end to end on its deck.

The Knock Nevis, a ship so huge that when fully laden it cannot pass through the 51.5 km wide English channel that separates England from France. For, when laden, it sits 24.6 metres in the water, a depth great enought to deny entry to most of the world's major ports.

In 1981, it was ready to be put to sea under the name the Sea Wise Giant. It was first operated in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. It was later trabsferred to the Persian Gulf to be used for exporting oil from Iran.

As the timing goes, it launch was not without hassles. Two major oil-producing states of Iran and Iraq were locked in a war. So ship was seen as a military target. As expected, disaster struck soon enough. While sailing the Hormuz Straits in 1986, it was targeted by Iraqi jets. Extensively damaged, it sank in the shallow water of Iran's Kharg Island. In 1988, the Sea Wise Giant, or what remained of it, was bought by Norman International. After major conversions and repairs it was relaunched in 1991 as the Happy Giant. By 1999 it had been sold to the Norwegian company Jahare Wallem to be operated under the name Jahre Viking. In 2009 it was renamed Mont and now waiting for ship breaking.

Oasis of the Seas

Five times bigger than the Titanic The Oasis of the Seas is quite simply the biggest ship ever. It is owned by Royal Caribbean International. This ocean going city has seven 'neighbourhoods' each offers passengers a different taste of luxury. This induces aqua theatre with fountains and lighting shows. There is also an opening park with restaurants and bars. Also the ship has library, three cinemas, many shops and disco clubs.

The vessel Oasis of the Seas has a length of 360 metres and the beam of 47 metres. The height of the vessel Oasis of the Seas is 65 metres, which is the dimension above the water line. That makes it more than 30 percent bigger than the previous supersized cruise ship. The passengers capacity of the vessel is over 6000 guests.

Such large cruise ship needs strong engine. The builders installed six diesel engines, giving the speed to the ship of 42 kilometres per hour in economy mode.

What about submarines?
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