LARGEST
Passenger Carrying Capacity
The largest passenger carrying capacity for a ship strangely goes, not to a ocean liner but to the ferries of New York's Staten Island ferry service. Their two vessels 'Andrew J. Barberi' and 'Samuel I. Newhouse' can each carry 6,000 passengers. However, in a vessel only 95 metres in length it can get pretty cosy at busy times!
Oil Tanker
Now retired, the 'Knock Nevis' (a.k.a. 'Jahre Viking', 'Happy Giant' and 'Seawise Giant') could carry 564,763 tonnes of cargo, fuel and stores. At 458.5 m (1,504 ft) long, 68.8 m wide (226 ft) and with a draught of 24.6 m (80 ft), the vessel was too large to safely navigate The English Channel!
Dry Bulk Carrier
Owned by Norwegian company Bergesen the 'Berge Stahl' can carry 364,767 tonnes (804 million pounds) of cargo, normally iron ore. The huge vessel is 343 metres (1,125 feet) long and 63.5 m (208 ft) wide.
Open-Deck Transport Vessel
The unusual, semi-submersible ship, 'Blue Marlin' has the special capability of being able to transport very large cargo, typically oil and gas platforms, by floating beneath them. Dutch company, Dockwise, operates the 178 m (584 ft) long giant carrier which can submerge its' 63 m (206 ft) wide middle deck section to a depth of 16 m (52 ft) and transport 76,061 tonnes of oversize cargo.
Passenger Liner
At 150,000 gross registered tons (grt) Cunard Line's, 'Queen Mary 2', is the largest liner afloat. The 345 metre (1,132 ft) long vessel, which made its maiden voyage in 2004, is nearly three times the size of the 'Titanic' and possesses luxurious space for 2,620 passengers and 1,253 crew.
Drilling Ships
255 m (835 ft) in length, the 'Discoverer Enterprise', 'Discoverer Spirit' and 'Discoverer Deep Seas' each displace 103,000 tonnes. The vessels are owned by American exploration company Transocean, and each is capable of drilling in 3,050 m (10,000 ft) of water to a depth of 10,650 m (35,000 ft).
Private Yacht
Following completion at Vosper's Yard, Southampton, England on the 22nd June, 1984, the 147 m (482 ft) Saudi Arabian royal yacht, 'Abdul Aziz' is the epitome of luxury and estimated to be worth £ 53.8 million (US$ 106,000,000).
FASTEST
Passenger Liner
During sea trials the SS 'United States' reached speeds of 44 knots (81.4 km/h; 50.63 mph) and cruised across the Atlantic Ocean at an average speed of 34.5 knots (64 km/h; 39.7 mph) in 1952.
Although 302 m (990 ft) long, her high speed was due as much to her lightweight (much of the liner's construction was of aluminium) as to her powerful 180,000 kW (241,000 hp) engines.
Propeller Driven Boat
In the hands of American skipper, Dave Villwock, and powered by a Lycoming T-55 L-7 turbine engine 'borrowed' from a Boeing Chinook helicopter, 'Miss Budweiser', an unlimited-class hydroplane, hurtled to a world record speed of 354.849 km/h (220.493 mph) on March 13th, 2004 at Thermalito Afterbay, California.
Destroyer
The French warship's name, 'Le Terrible', obviously didn't refer to her performance when, in 1935, she set a world record for speed reaching a commendable 45.25 knots (83.42 km/h; 52 mph) during trials.
OLDEST
Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat
Also known as 'Old Ironsides', the USS 'Constitution' is the oldest warship afloat and, on 21st October this year, will celebrate her 210th year in the role.
Commissioned in 1797, the 'Constitution' remains on the US navy vessel roster with a crew of between 50 and 80 active duty navy sailors. Charlestown, Massachusetts is her home port and she still makes occasional trips to sea.