Knock Nevis, ex-Jahre Vicking, ex-Seawise Giant, the Largest Tanker Ever Built, Sold to Asian Owners

November 29, 2009 · Filed Under Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships 

giant

How big is too big?  During World War II, T2 tankers were the standard oil tanker, carrying just under 17,000 dwt. By 1960, oil tankers had crossed the 100,000 dwt threshold and by the mid 70s, 250,000 dwt Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) were the norm.  In 1979 the Ultra Large Crude Carrier, (ULCC), Seawise Giant, was built with a capacity of 564,763 DWT, the largest tanker ever constructed.   (The four Batillus class supertankers built in 1976 had a slightly larger gross tonnage but were shorter and had a slightly lower deadweight.)  The Seawise Giant was originally owned by C.Y Tung.  She was indeed C.Y.’s Giant.

In 2004, the Seawise Giant, which having passed through several owners was then named the Jahre Viking, was sold again and renamed Knock Nevis, and converted into a permanently moored storage tanker moored in the Qatar Al Shaheen oil field in the Persian Gulf.  It was recently announced that she has recently been sold to Asian interests who are expected to continue to use her as  a floating storage facility.

Fred. Olsen sells Knock Nevis

Virtually all of the ULCCs built in the 1970s and early 80s have been scrapped or have ended their days as storage vessels.  The ULCCs may simply have been too big.  The Seawise Giant, for example, was too large to transit the English Channel and could not enter most ports. On the other hand, four modern double hulled ULCCs were built for Hellespont Shipping in 2002/2003.   Over 100,000 dwt smaller than the Seawise Giant, they still weigh in at 440,000 dwt. Owned by  Overseas Shipholding and Euronav, and operated by the Tanker International pool, the TI class ULCCs, have distinctive white upper hulls and decks, perhaps making them the new great white whales of the oceans.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Comments

One Response to “Knock Nevis, ex-Jahre Vicking, ex-Seawise Giant, the Largest Tanker Ever Built, Sold to Asian Owners”

  1. Update: Knock Nevis Reported Heading for Scrapyards : Old Salt Blog – a virtual port of call for all those who love the sea on December 16th, 2009 2:04 pm

    [...] had previously posted reports that the Knock Nevis, the largest tanker ever built at 564,763 DWT, had been sold to Asian [...]

Leave a Reply




Video of the Moment

HMS Surprise and Star of India

Also featuring the Californian
and the Lynx

To be notified of blog updates
enter your email address:

  • Viagra ordre
  • Cialis en ligne
  • Levitra en ligne
  • Propecia acheter
  • Viagra acheter
  • Acheter cialis
  • Ordre levitra
  • Ordre propecia
  • En ligne viagra
  • Vente cialis
  • Levitra bon marche
  • Propecia en ligne
  • Viagra online
  • Buy cialis
  • Order Levitra
  • Buy propecia
  • Buy viagra
  • Cheap cialis
  • Cheap Levitra
  • propecia online
  • Viagra prescription
  • Cialis online
  • Buy Levitra
  • Order propecia