World’s Largest and Longest Water Vessels

Two third of the earth’s surface is water. Water vessels have been the primary means of transportation from all over the world and have been the major means to transport goods and commodities from all over the world. Likewise, large battleships have been created making the oceans and seas the site of many battles in history.

Here’s a list of the longest, heaviest, most powerful and largest water vessels in the world.

1. USS New Jersey: World’s Longest Battleship

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USS New Jersey (BB-62) is the title holder for the “world’s longest battleship”. It is a part of the Iowa-class. It was launched on December 07, 1942 and decommissioned on February 08, 1991. She now serves as a museum at Camden, New Jersey. This vessel is nicknamed Big J or Black Dragon and was the second ship of the US to be named in honor of the US state of New Jersey.

Features

• Its total length is 887 ft 7 in or 270.5 m
• It receives 19 battle stars for Honors and awards
• It has a speed of 33 knots or 61 km/h
• The USS New Jersey has a total length of 887.7 ft or 271 meters
• It is also the only US battleship to provide gunfire support during the Vietnam War

2. USS Enterprise: World’s Longest Aircraft Carrier

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USS Enterprise (CVN-65) holds the title for the “world’s longest aircraft carrier”. It was also the world’s first nuclear powered aircraft carrier and the eighth U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. It was launched on September 24 1960 and is still currently active.

Features

• The USS Enterprise is 1,123 feet or 342 meters in length
• It has a top speed of 30+ knots
• It has a total width of 257 ft
• It is worth $451.3 million
• It has a crew of 5,500 – this include air wing
• Its motto: Ready on Arrival; The First, the Finest; Eight Reactors, None Faster
• Other nicknames: Big E, Mobile Chernobyl, Three Quarter Mile Island, The Enterprison and The Pig
• It is currently the oldest active vessel still in commission under the US Navy, excluding the ceremonial commission of USS Constitution.

3. MS Berge Stahl: World’s Largest Bulk Carrier Ship

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The MS Berge Stahl holds the title for the “world’s largest bulk carrier ship”. This vessel is currently registered in Norway but was previously registered in Liberia. This iron ore carrier was built in 1986.

Features

• It has a capacity of 364,767 metric tons deadweight (DWT)
• It is 1,122 ft or 343 meters long
• It has a beam or width of 208.3 feet or 65 meters and a draft or depth in the water of 23 meters
• Its diesel engine is 30 feet or 9 meters high that drives a single 30 foot or 9 meters propeller and puts out 27,610 horsepower (20.59 MW)
• It has a top speed of 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h), and has a 30 foot (9 m) high rudder

4. RMS Queen Mary 2: World’s Longest, Widest and Tallest Passenger Ship

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At the time of the construction in 2003 of the RMS Queen Mary 2, an ocean liner, it was the longest, widest and tallest passenger ship ever built, and at gross tonnage (GT) of 148,528 tons, was also the largest. It remains the largest ocean liner (as opposed to cruise ship) ever built, and her width, length, and waterline breadth are unsurpassed by any other passenger ship.

Features

• It has a total length of 1,132 ft or 345 meters
• It has a speed of 29.62 knots or 54.86 km/h or 34.09 mph
• It can accommodate 2,620 passengers with 1,253 a crew and officers
• It is worth US$ 900 million
• It displaces approximately 76,000 tons
• Queen Mary 2’s has 15 restaurants and bars
• It also has 5 swimming pools, a casino, a ballroom, a theatre, a planetarium and kennels

5. Kirov Class Battlecruisers: World’s Largest and Most Powerful Non-Aircraft Carrier Warships

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The Kirov class battlecruisers hold the title for the “largest and most powerful surface combatant warships in the Russian Navy” and the “largest and most powerful non-aircraft carrier warships in the world”.

General features

• Length: 252 m (830 ft)
• Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h)
• Aircraft carried: 3 helicopters

Kirov/ Admiral Ushakov

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Kirov is the lead ship of her class of missile cruisers. It is one of the major and biggest surface warships of the Russian Navy.  It is one of the biggest warships of the world and is similar in size to a WWI Battleship. It was renamed Admiral Ushakov.

Frunze/Admiral Lazarev

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Admiral Lazarev, formerly known as Frunze, is the second Kirov class battleship. It was laid down in 1978 at Leningrad, launched in 1981, and commissioned in 1984. In December 1984 she joined the Soviet Navy's Pacific Fleet.

Kalinin/ Admiral Nakhimov

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Kalinin, the 3rd battlecruiser of the Kirov class, is now named Admiral Nakhimov.

Yuri Andropov/ Pyotr Velikiy

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Pyotr Velikiy, the 4th Kirov class battlecruiser, is a heavy nuclear-powered cruiser of the Russian Navy. It is originally named Yuriy Andropov. It is the flagship of the Northern Fleet. She had now been renamed Pyotr Velikiy, Russian for Peter the Great.

6. Yamato Class Battleships: World’s Largest, Heaviest and Most Heavily-armed Battleships

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The Yamato class battleships are the title holder for “world’s largest, heaviest and most heavily-armed battleship ever constructed”. These were battleships of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJN) constructed and operated during WWII. Two battleships of the class (Yamato and Musashi) were completed, while a third—Shinano—was converted to an aircraft carrier during construction.

Features

• The class carried the largest naval artillery ever fitted to a warship, 9 460 mm naval guns, each capable of firing 2,998-pound (1,360 kg) shells over 26 miles (42 km).
• Cost: 235,150,000 JPY
• Displacement: 69,988 long tons (71,111 t) standard; 72,000 long tons (73,000 t) full load.
• Length: 256 meters (839 ft 11 in) at water-line; 263 meters (862 ft 10 in) overall

Yamato

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Yamato was the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet; she was lead ship of the Yamato class. She and her sister ship, Musashi, were the largest and heaviest battleships ever constructed, displacing 72,800 tonnes at full load, and armed with nine 46 cm (18.1 inch) main guns. Yamato was sunk in April 1945 during Operation Ten-Go.

Musashi

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Musashi was the second ship of the Yamato class. Musashi was sunk on 24 October 1944 by American carrier aircraft, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

7. Shinano: Largest Warship Sunk by a Submarine

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Shinano was an Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier that had a full-load displacement of 72,000 tons, the largest aircraft carrier ever built at the time. Shinano was sunk by the submarine USS Archer-Fish ten days after her commissioning. To date, it is the largest warship to be sunk by a submarine.

8. Freedom Class: Largest Passenger Ships in the World

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Freedom Class, a group of 3 cruiser ships, was the largest passenger ship in the world, and the largest ever built in terms of passenger capacity and gross tonnage, when she was built. These two records are now shared by all three ships.

Features

• Restaurants: Sorrentos Pizzeria, Buffett, 3-Story Traditional Dining, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Portofino Italian Restaurant, Chops Grille Steak House
• Sports: Rock Climbing, Full Boxing Ring, Ice Skating Rink, Surfing, Mini Golf, Golf Simulator, Sports Pool, Gym, Running Track, Full Basketball Court (Converts to Full Volleyball Court)
• Adults: Spa, Adults Only Solarium, Adults Only Whirlpools, Nightclubs and Bars
• Children/Teens: Fuel - Teen only nightclub, The Living Room - A place for teens to hang out

MS Freedom of the Seas

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MS Freedom of the Seas, a cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean, can accommodate 3,634 passengers and 1,300 crew on 15 passenger decks. In addition to two sister ships, Freedom of the Seas will keep the title of the largest passenger ships ever built (by gross tonnage) until construction of the Oasis Class ships in 2009.

MS Independence of the Seas

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MS Independence of the Seas joined Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas as the largest cruise ships and passenger vessels ever built (at the time of construction).

MS Liberty of the Seas

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MS Liberty of the Seas with her sister ships, Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, are the largest cruise ships and passenger vessels ever built. It is 1,111.9 ft (338.91 m) long, 184 ft (56.08 m) wide, and cruises at 21.6-knot or 40 km/h or 25 mph.

9. Oasis Class: World’s Largest Cruise Ships

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The Oasis class, a class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships, will surpass the earlier Freedom class as the “world’s largest passenger ships”. At 360 m (1,180 feet) in length they will be 23 meters or 69 feet longer than the present largest passenger ship, the Independence of the Seas.

Features

• It will also be 8.5 meters or 29 feet wider, with a 43% greater gross tonnage of 220,000 t Oasis class vessels will carry up to 5,400 passengers
• It’s priced at US$1.24 billion (€ 900 million)
• It will be the most expensive commercial ship ever built.
• It will render a ‘Central Park’, a 5-deck high area in the middle of the ship, open to the sky and filled with lush tropical gardens, upscale restaurants and shops.
• There will be 334 staterooms overlooking the Park
• It will have 254 with balconies - four of which are wheelchair accessible.
• It will have two arched-glass domes in Central Park
• Tonnage: 220,000 gross
• Displacement: app. 100,000 tons
• Length: 1,181 ft (360 m) Beam: 154 ft (47 m)

MS Allure of the Seas

MS Allure of the Seas, a cruise ship, will be the sister ship to the “world’s largest passenger ship”, the Oasis of the Seas.

MS Oasis of the Seas

MS Oasis of the Seas with her sister ship, MS Allure of the Seas, will be crowned as the “world’s largest passenger vessel”.

10. Wyoming: Largest Wooden Ship

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The Wyoming was a wooden six-masted schooner, the largest wooden schooner ever built. She was built and completed in 1909 and was also one of the largest wooden ships ever built, the longest wooden ship ever built, 450 ft (140 m) from jibboom tip to spanker boom tip, and the last six-mast schooner built on the east coast of the US.

Features

• It has a draft of 30 ft 5 in (9.3 m).
• It has a volume of 373,054 cubic feet
• It had a cargo capacity of 303,621 cubic feet (8,597.6 m3)
• Its deadweight was 6004 long tons
• It could carry 6,000 long tons of coal.

11. Thomas W. Lawson: Largest Pure Sailing Vessel (without an auxiliary engine) Ever Built

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The Thomas W. Lawson was the only seven-masted, steel-hulled schooner ever built. It was built in 1902 and holds the distinction of being the largest schooner and the largest pure sailing vessel (without an auxiliary engine) ever built.

Features

• Length: 475 ft or 145 meters (overall)
• Cost: $248,000 construction, total costs with oil cargo in 1907: ~$400,000
• Speed: 16 knots or 29.632 km/h

12. M/Y Eclipse: World’s Largest Private Yacht

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The luxury yacht named M/Y Eclipse is the incoming largest yacht in the world. It is 170 meters or 560 ft long, and is due to be delivered to Abramovich (owner) in 2010 after the finishing touches have been applied. This makes Eclipse the world's largest private yacht, 11 meters or 36 ft longer than the world’s previous biggest yacht Dubai. It is estimated to be valued at € 340 million (circa $485 million US).

Features

• It has two helicopter pads
• It has 11 guest cabins
• It has two swimming pools, several hot tubs
• It has a disco hall.
• It also comes equipped with three launch boats
• It has a mini-submarine that is capable of submerging to 50 meters
• About 70 crew are needed to operate the yacht

13. Dubai: Current Largest Private Yacht in the World

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The title holder of the “largest yacht in the world” is ‘Dubai’. It is owned by the ruler of Emirate of Dubai. This vessel is 524 feet, 10 inches or 162 meters long. This title will be taken away by Eclipse in 2010.

14. Stena class: World’s Largest Catamarans

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Stena HSS class is the largest catamarans in the world. These waterjet-powered vessels, displacing 19,638 tonnes, are larger than most catamarans and can accommodate 375 passenger cars and 1,500 passengers. The HSS 1500 are the largest ‘fastcraft’ in the world and have an in-service speed of 40 knots (75 km/h).

15. Eos: World’s Largest Private Sailing Yacht

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The Eos is a three masted Bermuda rigged schooner sailing luxury yacht. It is one of the largest - if not the largest private sailing yacht in the world with an overall length measuring approximately 305 feet or 93 meters

Features

• Its total length is 304.86 feet
• Its gross tonnage is 1500
• Engines: 2 x 2,333 hp (1,740 kW) MTU Diesels
• It has a maximum speed of 16 knots or 30 km/h

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