It gets here via BIG SHIPS.
The Maersk Triple-E class ships are the 2nd largest in the world.
—- 60,000 tons ….. enough steel for 185,489 Harley Davidson motorcycles
—- 1,313 feet long (just 7 feet shy of a QUARTER MILE) by 194 feet wide, and 243 feet high.
—- 165,000 metric tons deadweight
It’s capacity is 18,000 20-foot containers …. enough for 182 Million i-Pads.
18,000 containers would require a 69 mile long train … or, if stacked on top of each other, would reach 30 miles high …. or, if stacked in front of Blarney Rock Pub in NYC it would look like this …
The Route to Europe
It has a REALLY BIG engine .. well, two of these below …. each producing 43,000 horsepower, or 32 megawatts
And two 32 foot diameter propellers each weighing 70 tons
An anchor bigger than Michelle’s ass ….
…. and each link on the chain weighs 500 pounds
It is THE most EFFICIENT mode of transportation. It burns about 3,500 gallons of fuel per hour (about 11 tons). However … this article claims that due to the low grade fuel used, that ONE container ship is equal in pollution to 50 million cars! ( http://www.gizmag.com/shipping-pollution/11526/ )
It is a “cradle-to-grave” design. Meaning, when the ship is decommissioned, almost 100% of it will be recycled for other uses.
The Design Specification for the ship was over 500 pages in length. It is truly an engineering marvel. For example, over 500 hull designs were considered. Here’s a nice 10 minute overview. (Youtube has a full hour documentary).
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China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) is even bigger. It is identical in length and width, but has greater gross tonnage (186,000) and its configuration allows for 19,000 20-foot containers.
The LARGEST ship ever built was an oil tanker, the Seawise Giant.
— 1,504 feet long by 226 feet wide
— and a jaw dropping 564,763 dead weight tonnage
You need to see a scale to appreciate its size. (Noah’s Ark would come in at just 135 meters, which apparently was large enough to hold a pair of all the animals in the world, including dinosaurs according to some, and their food.)
Built in 1979, she was damaged in the Iran-Iraq war in 1988 and then sunk. Unbelievably, she was salvaged and rebuilt before being sold for scrap to India in 2004.
I wonder how many of those containers fall off these ships during transport??
@zelmer,
Too many. They’re the one thing that really scares me at sea. They hover just below the surface and if ya ram one, it’s glub, glub all the way down. 🙁
There are approximately 5 to 6 million containers in transit at any given moment. Estimates of the number of shipping containers lost at sea range from the hundreds to the thousands.
Oopsey!
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Start at the 45 sec mark.
Holy Shit! look out belooooow!!
Driving through the Panama Canal? No problem!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ALVF3BlZV8I
A better question is, ‘why are we buying so much poorly made Chinese crap?’
I recently purchased something from a Chinese company. The parts are defective – presumably they were indifferently assembled by incompetent people from fourth-rate parts made from worthless plans on worn-out tooling. This seems to be par for the course.
Though, I also have a pair of Chinese military binoculars. Very, very nice. Presumably because I was not the intended end-user. The Chinese can make stuff that isn’t crap, but generally don’t seem to do so, if there aren’t negative consequences involved.
Holy CRAP is right! That is one big ship. Nice vids Stucky.
Thanks, subzero.
I believe this will be my last Pictorial Essay. The last one “USA Understood Via Maps” only got 2 comments. It seems what I think is pretty cool vs. what people here think is worthy are two different things. Not complaining. It is what it is. But, I’m tired of guessing … and putting in the work.
I would LOVE to see one of these ships up close in person.
My guess is that there are only a small handful of ports in the states that can handle a ship of this size?
Anyone know the details off-hand?
This is a very cool essay Stuck – there just isn’t that much to comment on. Unless you screw it up, in which case all of us STM’s will jump on you like a horde of rabid… uhh…. STM’s.
Sightseer, “My guess is that there are only a small handful of ports in the states that can handle a ship of this size?” Small handful is right – ZERO. The US gets some very large container ships, but last I checked none of our ports can accommodate these leviathans. I think it’s mostly because of their draft and air draft (height) requirements. A few years ago there was talk of opening a transshipping port in the Bahamas to offload these beasts and put the containers on smaller vessels to go into the US, but I don’t think that went anywhere. I’m not crying too much because we get so much junk from China as it is.
“This is a very cool essay Stuck –” ——— Persnickety
THAT’S what I’m talking about!! Yeah!! One or two compliments, and a few thumbs up. That’s all Herr Stuchenmeister requires. Is that too much to aks?
In fact, I am in such a good mood because of you, that I am rescinding my previous edict. I SHALL do more Pictorial Essays!
hmmmm … I see my tantrum lasted just 39 minutes.
I crack myself up.
Stuck,
I’d laud you more, but I have to keep working to buy more Chinese crap. Consider yourself lauded.
If that anchor holds that ship, it’s a fluke…..sorry..
Yes, great essay Stuck. Keep doing them…you clearly love doing the work, so quit whining. I always check out Stucky articles but don’t always comment. Deal with it and consider your ego sufficiently stroked.
Engineering marvels to be sure and no doubt the most efficient way of moving shit from China…BUT still a hue waste of time and ENERGY. Watched a VICE episode where they showed “scrappers” taking all the metal out of abandoned building in Cleveland (same thing going on in most cities)…I say great..reuse and recycle, all that crap…BUT…99% of the metals gets shipped to fucking CHINA…so we take materials out of our cities…ship it hundreds of miles over land, then thousands of miles over seas, so that the Chinese can make crap that then gets shipped back over here and sold at fucking Wally World. Incredible distortion..,. only a truly fucked up market would allow it…a real free market would crush such waste of time and energy (real things as opposed to fiat) in days.
DRUD
You da Man!!
Consider me STROKED!!
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AC,
A lot of the poor quality that seems so common is a shift in how product quality testing is accomplished.
Used to be for most consumer items that they were tested when finished before they were sent out for sale to make sure they met quality standards.
Then as production became so inexpensive and mass production so productive someone figured out is is actually cheaper to just replace anything the consumer finds defective if it doesn’t work right, a sort of end user product quality testing system.
@nkit: “If that anchor holds that ship, it’s a fluke”
Indeed.
Also, there are 10 kinds of people. Those who know binary, and…
As others have said, China can make good quality stuff, It’s just we demand cheap stuff, so we get junk from over there. If you are willing to pay, they can and do make some good stuff over there.
I passed through the Panama Canal, but we managed to not run aground and damage a donkey. Of course a submarine is a lot smaller than the ship shown in the video and even smaller compared to the giant ships discussed in the actual post.
Stucky, don’t post for comments, post because you have something to say. I always enjoy what I read here, but I comment on maybe one in ten things because A) someone already said whatever I was going to add or B) I have ten different things I have to do and I’m lucky I got the time to read it never mind reply (No one is home right now and we’re having a massive T-storm so I get to sit down without interruption for half an hour by myself).
These pieces are always interesting and worth your time (and ours) plus it adds to the diversity of this site.
Keep it up.
Ditto what Hardscrabble Farmer said…
Stucky says- “I’m tired of guessing” (what people like)
On TBP, tits and ass pictures are always popular. It is what it is Stucky.
Anyway, really cool article.
Stucky, I’m with the others in saying that I really like your pictorial essays. I was very impressed with the one about castles, but I figured it was redundant for me to say what had already been said (like what Hardscrabble Farmer just said).
Keep ’em coming, you do them so well.
Stucky, when U go swimming, do people mistake U for 1 of these ships?
Great article
I’ll have to find the 1 on castles. Me mum likes them. Link?
Keep them coming Stucky they are interesting diversions from all of the doom stuff. I am envious of the time you have to research your subject matter and how well you present it. Thanks.
carnival cruise line for chinese immigrants
I have seen some of these big ships at the port in LA.They will get your attention.It’s also interesting watching the dock workers unloading those big boys. The cranes they use are also huge.
Stucky ,I always read your post.I don’t always comment but you do a great job.Keep them coming.
Here is the “castles” link.
http://www.theburningplatform.com/2014/08/22/the-outrageous-beauty-of-medieval-castles/
And here is its companion piece — “Medieval Churches”
Nice job, Stuck.
You say above “It is THE most EFFICIENT mode of transportation.”
Ummm, I beg to differ. I believe the most efficient mode of transportation is the bicycle, particularly the velomobile. I stand to be corrected.
Stucky,
All your special posts about castles and churches, cars and cargo carriers, and other subjects have been most appreciated.
I know it’s a lot of work – you said so when I wondered why your comment on cathedrals was so slow coming – but your research and results are most appreciated. I read each one several times and I send some to friends if I think they’ll be interested in an essay.
You pick interesting subjects, you have good judgment about what to write, and you make every writing and photo selection interesting.
What you write, I’m looking forward to read. Do keep it up.
Stucky says: I believe this will be my last Pictorial Essay. The last one “USA Understood Via Maps” only got 2 comments.
I would like to comment more often but I’ve internalized much criticism about assclowns that well, I’m sorry I took up your time and valuable comment space…
Stuck – I think your USA post was great. I just did not have time to post anything, and it was one that required thinking about. At the best of times I am not a great thinker – it makes my head hurt.
Interesting videos indeed!
Stucky, how about a pictorial essay about Persian women?
What Bea Lever said – more tits and ass. If you do a spread on Iranian women, show only the post-nose-job ones, please.
I’ve never been on board one of these, but I’ve been on a bunch of ultra large crude carriers and they are so big it’s hard to believe. That engine pic doesn’t do it justice , those thing are like 4 stories high. When inspecting the ship, you gotta go down flight after flight of stairs. And the shafts on them are bigger around than almost any tree you’ll see, solid steel too. Another interesting fact is that they often have two seperate, sealed engine rooms. If you have a fire, you dump your halon into that room and keep on going on the other engine. A lot of fun climbing up the side of one wearing 60 pounds of gear, let me tell you.
And I also enjoy your pictorial essays, but I don’t typically comment on them, this one I just happen to know a little about having been on board so many large ships.
Stucky, there is another site I read (ace of spades hq) that whoever posts always puts a picture of a nice painting, or great architecture or something up top,every day. I don’t comment there, but every day I take a moment and my art IQ, or my architecture iQ goes up a little bit. Your pictorial essays are the same, I read them, study the pictures, I get smarter. Thanks. Keep up the good work.
A pictorial on hairy Persians would definitely bury the ignominious horse article. I’m not sure I could tell the difference but I might long for the taste of hay instead.
Stuck sure knows how to build the anticipation, here we are salivating over a trip to muggerland and an article sure to be replete with tits, tits and more tits and maybe a little bit of ass
Everybody likes a little ass, nobody likes a smart ass – the beautiful blonde
Nice one Stuckenmeister!
At the best of times I am not a great thinker – it makes my head hurt. – llpoh: don’t be too hard on yerself there bro – you’re one of the better and clearer thinkers around here.
Keep ’em coming Stucky! I have dinner now and then atop the Space Needle in Seattle and there is a container port very near there and you get a birds eye view of the southern Puget Sound with plenty of container ship traffic.
One question on the shipping containers: Aren’t these ships primarily loaded with 40 foot containers instead of 20 footers?
Well that was an interesting avatar!
HF, and others, have given good advice regarding my “hangup” with thumbs and/or comments. Write when you have something to say …. great advice.
In my defense, I only look for a couple positive affirmations cuz it really does help me determine if the stuff I put out is of interest to folks, or way off base.
That being said, thanks to all for the many nice things you have said.
“Stuck sure knows how to build the anticipation, here we are salivating over a trip to muggerland and an article sure to be replete with tits, tits and more tits and maybe a little bit of ass.” ——– EC
EC … YOU could add to the anticipation greatly if YOU were to show up!! I know you live far far away, and so it’s extremely unlikely, but meeting you would be simply awesome.
No, no, no …. no Persian tits and ass per Zara’s request!!!
For people here you don’t know the back-story of that request. Zara’s first avatar was that of a nice looking woman. I believed that was Zara’s actual picture … a nice looking woman. So, I flirted with “her” all the time. I may have even asked “her” for a date. HE strung me along like that for over a year. Then, one fine day, Admin had pity on me, and told me the truf of my homosexual advances. I felt so ashamed and dirty!
So, when Zara wants a pictorial essay about Iranian women …. the egotistical prick really wants a full spread of …… HIMSELF. I will not comply.
“One question on the shipping containers: Aren’t these ships primarily loaded with 40 foot containers instead of 20 footers?” ———– I_S
Every single article I read about the Maersk Triple E talked about 20 foot containers.
However, I found this on wiki (emphasis mine);
“Container ship capacity is MEASURED in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). Typical loads are a mix of 20-foot and 40-foot (2-TEU) ISO-standard containers, with the latter predominant.”
Soooo, you may indeed be correct The actual container may be 40 feet ….. but for MEASUREMENT or reporting purposes it would be two twenty foot containers?
I did not know about TEU. Makes sense I guess. Thanks!
” …. there is another site I read (ace of spades hq) that whoever posts always puts a picture of a nice painting, or great architecture or something up top,every day.” —– starfcker
There’s another website that does the same thing that I visit several times a week … Strike The Root …. http://www.strike-the-root.com/ It has good articles too, which I post here from time to time.
Here is today’s picture (it’s much bigger on their web site)
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