90% of the world’s goods pass by sea. From container ships to huge Ro-Ros (roll on-roll offloading and unloading of vehicles via ramps, without resorting to cranes) that transport motor vehicles, up to oil tankers and bulk carriers: every ship that transports them is a cargo ship. In the collective imagination they are crammed with thousands of standard-sized colored containers. But there are also ships equipped differently. In addition to those that transport gas and oil (oil and methane tankers), rolling vehicles (loaded independently without using cranes), animals and fresh fruit and vegetables. Cargo ships intended for global transport are true giants of the sea. The largest in the world is the MSC Irina. With his 399.9 meters long (almost the size of four FIFA regulation football pitches) and 61 meters wide, it is capable of transporting 24,346 standard containers (the TEU unit of measurement is based on metal containers 6.1 m long). Several ships of the Evergreen Marine company and Mol actually reach 400 meters, but the number of containers they transport is lower. From complicated cargo handling operations to pirates and environmental challenges, here are 10 fun facts about cargo ships.
