Knock Nevis

The Knock Nevis, formerly Seawise Giant, Happy Giant b>, Jahre Viking and Mont was a ULCC supertanker ( Ultra Large Crude Carrier) built between 1979 and 1981, at the Oppama shipyards (Japan). At 458 meters long, 29.8 meters deep and 69 meters wide, she was the largest ship in the world, and the one that, in turn, had the largest gross registered tonnage (GRT) to date. In maximum load condition, its displacement was 657,019 tons (646,642 LT; 724,239 LT), the ship with the largest displacement in history, and with a draft of 24.6 m (81 ft), it could not cross the Canal de la Reina. Channel, the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal. In general terms, it was considered the largest ship ever built and the largest mobile object made by man. Its last destination was as a floating warehouse and off-shore discharge (FSO), anchored off the coast of Qatar (Persian Gulf)., in the Al Shaheen oil field.

The ship was renamed Mont for its final voyage in December 2009 to India where, after obtaining permission from customs authorities, it was beached for dismantling.

History

It was built at the Oppama shipyard in Japan, owned by the Sumitomo Corporation, for a Greek owner who went bankrupt when the ship was nearing completion. Before her completion, the ship was purchased by Tung Chao Yung, a Hong Kong magnate, also known as C. Y. Tung, who increased her dimensions, increasing the cargo capacity and making her the largest ship built. She was launched two years later under the name Seawise Giant.

Its initial route linked the Middle East with the United States, but since 1986 it was used as a floating warehouse and transport by Iran during its war against Iraq. In May 1988, the ship was attacked and severely damaged by Iraqi aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz. At the end of 1989, at the end of the war, the ship was purchased by the Norwegian company KS-Company, controlled by Norman International. The ship was repaired at the Keppel shipyard in Singapore and renamed Happy Giant, although in 1991, before the repairs were completed, the company passed into the hands of Jorgen Jahre and the ship was launched with the name of Jahre Viking. At the end of 1990, KS-Company was acquired by First Olsen Tankers.

In March 2004, the ship was sent to the Dubai Drydocks shipyard to be renovated as a floating warehouse, being again renamed, this time as Knock Nevis, since it did not have a double hull it could no longer transit by sailing by sea off the coast of several countries, now all oil tankers must be double-hulled to be able to sail.

The ship was sold to an Indian shipbreaking company, and renamed Mont for its final voyage in December 2009. After obtaining permission from customs authorities, it was intentionally stranded in Alang, Gujarat, India, for dismantling. Her 36-ton anchor was stored and sent to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum for display.