Knock Nevis: In 2010, a shipbreaking yard in Alang, India dismantled M/V Knock Nevis, which had been the largest ship in history. Humans dubbed the supertanker, the largest ship ever built, and it had a very dramatic life. From the ship’s construction shipyard in Japan to its demise in Alang, it had experienced several fascinating events from the beginning. This piece chronicles the fascinating history of Knock Nevis, the biggest ship ever constructed.
We have attempted to record Knock Nevis’s timeline from the beginning here. Unfortunately, museums cannot display the wreckage of such a renowned warship. Learn more about the supertanker Knock Nevis’s fascinating life below:
India’s Shipbuilding History: Uncovering a Forgotten Maritime Legacy
Main particulars
| Name | Knock Nevis |
| IMO | 7381154 |
| GT | 260,941 |
| NT | 214,793 |
| Laden Displacement | 646,642 long tons |
| Light Displacement | 81,879 long tons |
| Length (LOA) | 458.45 m (1,504.10 ft) |
| Beam | 68.8 m (225.72 ft) |
| Draught | 24.611 metres (80.74 ft) |
| Depth | 29.8 m (97.77 ft) |
| Propulsion | Steam Turbine |
| Speed | 16 knots |
| Capacity | 4,240,865 barrels (of crude oil) |
| Tonnage | 564,763 DWT |
| Type | ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier) |
| Ex. Names | Seawise Giant; Happy Giant; Jahre Viking |
| Post Name | Mont |
History
A Greek owner gave Sumitomo Heavy Industries an order in 1979 to build a tanker ship, which became known as Knock Nevis. But when the owner refused to accept delivery of the ship, the ship’s builders gave it the name Oppama.
The Orient Overseas Container Line purchased the ship and requested an increase in its length and cargo capacity. It took two years to refurbish the ship, and then it was relaunched as Seawise Giant.
With a deadweight capacity of 564,763 metric tons, Seawise Giant measured 458.45 meters overall, 69 meters in beam, and 24.611 meters in draft. Her deck area measured 31,451 square meters, and she carried 46 tanks in total.
The Seawise Giant was deemed inoperable in 1988 after being damaged and sank during the Second World War (the Iraq-Iran War).
Norman International purchased the wreckage after the war, had it fixed in Singapore, and relaunched it as Happy Giant.
In 1991, Norwegian shipowner Jorgen Jahre bought the vessel and gave her the new name Jahre Viking.
First Olsen Tankers acquired Jahre Viking in 2004 and renamed it Knock Nevis. Ever since, it has served as a stationary offshore platform, sometimes known as a floating storage and offloading unit, or FSO.
Fishing Vessels: Boats and Ships for Catching Fish in Lakes, Seas, and Rivers
After that, Amber Development Corporation bought it and renamed her M/V Mont. She made her only trip to Alang, India, in January 2010, before being dismantled.
Initially, the ship had no name; someone renamed it the Oppama and eventually the Seawise Giant. Before decommissioning, people knew it as the Happy Giant, Jahr Viking, Knock Nevis, and finally the Mont. The world’s largest ship was rebuilt after sinking during a conflict and never passing through the Suez or Panama Canals. Knock Nevis is unlikely to rebuild due to its enormous size and heavy draft. Next, we’ll discuss the largest cruise ship and other gigantic ships like the Emma Maersk.
