THE HISTORY OF THE BIG SHIP – THE SEAWISE GIANT SHIP

Photo Credit: aukevisser.nl

In the 1980s, the Seawise Giant, a big supertanker, took to the oceans. It is the world’s biggest ship, lengthening more than 1,500 feet long and wider. However, the vessel, which changed names and owners several times throughout its career, was incredible for more than just its huge size. Its history is renowned, exceeding those of more famous ships like the Titanic. From its outstanding construction to its drowning by the weapons of Saddam Hussein rockets to its ensuing rescue and rebirth, the Seawise Giant earned its position among history’s great ships.

HISTORY:

Seawise Giant was first ordered in 1974 as an unnamed Ultra Large Crude Carrier (ULCC) with a capacity of 418,611 tonnes. Sumitomo Heavy Industries of Japan launched it in 1979, though it went unidentified for a long time due to an argument between the Greek owner and the constructor about vibrations. It was then sold to Hong Kong billionaire C.Y. Tung, who had it changed into the world’s biggest ship by jumboization, adding over 146,000 tonnes of capacity. Renamed Seawise Giant, it commenced operations in 1981, with a length of 458 meters and a deadweight capacity of 564,763 tonnes, making it the biggest and widest ship ever built. Unfortunately, during the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, it suffered destruction after being hit by Iraqi missiles.

IS TITANIC THE BIGGEST SHIP IN THE WORLD?

No, it is not the biggest ship in the world. Despite her huge size, the Titanic was not the world’s largest ship. Titanic was not the largest vessel afloat in 1912, with a total gross weight of 46,328 tonnes. However, it has long been outweighed in size. The record for the largest passenger ship has been given to Melody of the Seas, a 228,081 gross tonnes cruise liner launched in 2018. The record for overall measurement is held by Seawise Giant, a 458-meter-long oil tanker with a gross tonnage of over 260,000 tonnes.

Where is the Seawise ship today?

The vessel was sold to Indian shipbreakers and renamed Mont for her last cruise in December 2009. After clearing Indian customs, the ship traveled to Alang Ship Breaking Yard, Alang, Gujarat, where she was beached and abandoned, which concluded in 2010.

What was the key engineering feature that made the SeaWise exceptional from other ships?

The ship’s design was an engineering masterpiece. It contained a single rudder as well as one of the largest propellers ever made, with each blade that lengthened more than ten meters in length.

The Seawise Giant’s engine room had a 50,000 horsepower engine which powered the ship at a maximum speed of 16.5 knots. Despite its large size, the ship was recognized for its exceptional energy consumption and mobility.

Another exceptional feature of the Seawise Giant was its framework design. Its double-hulled structure provides additional protection against spills and structural damage.

This design later became a tanker establishing normal, strongly influenced by lessons acquired from the Seawise Giant and other big tankers of the time.

What is the Operational History of Seaside?

The Seawise Giant’s operational history is equally outstanding as its creation.

This section describes the ship’s great voyages, its significance in global trade, and its participation in crucial historical events.

1. Major Voyages and Routes: because of its extraordinary size, the Seawise Giant was mostly used for long-distance excursions, transporting crude oil between the Middle East and the United States, among other places. 

2. Role in Global Trade and the Economy: during its operational years, the Seawise Giant had an important effect on the worldwide oil trade. Its capacity to transport a huge amount has an important impact on global oil markets. By reducing the cost per barrel of transported oil, it improved the productivity of the oil supply chain, making it an important resource in the energy sector. The ship’s operations were tightly related to worldwide oil market changes that continually reflected current economic and political developments.

3. Ownership and Management: Throughout its time of existence, the Seawise Giant underwent several changes in ownership and management, each of which had an impact on the vessel’s trip. This section investigates changes and their impact on the ship.

The Conflict and Involvement of the Seawise Ship.

The Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s was one of the most major occurrences in the history of the Seawise Giant.

In 1988, when anchored near Iran’s Larak Island, Iraqi fighter planes attacked and badly destroyed the ship. The attack set the vessel ablaze, and it sank in shallow water. This episode represented a turning point in the ship’s history, as it was considered a total loss.

However, in a miraculous turn of events, the wreck was salvaged, and the ship was finally reconstructed and recommissioned. This return from near-destruction added a fresh chapter to the vessel’s legendary tale. 

The Seawise Giant, which was renamed several times after this awful event, continued to operate under different monikers, including the Happy Giant, Jahre Viking, and finally the Knock Nevis.

CONCLUSION.

The SeaWise Giant’s story is reminiscent of a big ocean trip. From its humble beginnings as the Jahre Viking to its transformation into the SeaWise Giant, this ship proved what humans can achieve when they join. It faced difficulties along the way, but it also created interest and respect everywhere it went.

However, the SeaWise Giant’s journey came to an end after a collision in 2010. Despite efforts to save it, the ship was finally scrapped. Even though it no longer sails, the SeaWise Giant’s legacy stays on. It reminds us of the wonderful things we can accomplish if we dream goals and work hard.

So, as we reflect on the incredible story of the Sea Wise Giant, may it serve as a light of hope and inspiration. May it inspire us to continue pushing the limits of what is possible and to never stop exploring the world’s great and beautiful oceans.