Samuel Ward

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USS Arizona Memorial prior to and after its construction - 1958 vs 1991 🚢⚓
08/19/2025

USS Arizona Memorial prior to and after its construction - 1958 vs 1991 🚢⚓

Captain Edward Smith’s bathtub on the RMS Titanic was discovered during expeditions to the shipwreck. Despite damage to ...
08/18/2025

Captain Edward Smith’s bathtub on the RMS Titanic was discovered during expeditions to the shipwreck. Despite damage to the ship, the bathtub remained intact, becoming an iconic artifact. Located in the captain’s cabin, it originally featured hot and cold running water, a luxury at the time.
📸©️: RMS Titanic, Inc

The world's largest ships are powered by massive engines that showcase modern engineering's immense size, power, and eff...
08/18/2025

The world's largest ships are powered by massive engines that showcase modern engineering's immense size, power, and efficiency. Weighing 2,300 tons and producing 107,000 horsepower, these engines consume 250 tons of fuel daily but are designed for maximum efficiency to reduce emissions.

The USS Texas, the country's first battleship to become a permanent museum ship, left its berth near Houston on August 3...
08/15/2025

The USS Texas, the country's first battleship to become a permanent museum ship, left its berth near Houston on August 31 for hull repairs at Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations’ Galveston Shipyard. The ship, launched in 1912, saw active duty in both world wars and has been closed to the public since August 2019. ⚓🇺🇸💪🏽🚢💼

The SS United States has arrived in Mobile, Alabama, to be repurposed as the world's largest artificial reef off Florida...
08/15/2025

The SS United States has arrived in Mobile, Alabama, to be repurposed as the world's largest artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast. The vessel, purchased by Okaloosa County for $10.1 million, will also be honored with a $1 million seaside museum. 🚣‍♀️🌊🐠

In 1981, Seawise Giant underwent major modifications at Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Japan, increasing her length from 3...
08/15/2025

In 1981, Seawise Giant underwent major modifications at Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Japan, increasing her length from 376 meters to 458.45 meters and her deadweight tonnage from 480,000 DWT to 564,763 DWT, making her the longest ship and largest cargo carrier ever built.

The Titanic sank in about 5 minutes, reaching a maximum velocity of 30 mph. The bow section descended at an angle, plani...
08/14/2025

The Titanic sank in about 5 minutes, reaching a maximum velocity of 30 mph. The bow section descended at an angle, planing forward horizontally, while the stern imploded due to compressed air. The debris field measures 3 miles by 5 miles, and the British Board of Trade initially claimed the ship sank intact to protect the reputation of British-built ships.
© NatGeo. Extracts courtesy encyclopedia-titanica.org.

Original photo of Titanic 🚢🌊📸
08/14/2025

Original photo of Titanic 🚢🌊📸

On August 21, 2022, the cargo ships AP Revelin and Damgracht collided near Port Arthur, Texas, resulting in significant ...
08/14/2025

On August 21, 2022, the cargo ships AP Revelin and Damgracht collided near Port Arthur, Texas, resulting in significant damage to the AP Revelin, estimated at $3.4 million.

Seawise Giant – The Largest Ship Ever BuiltThe Seawise Giant holds a legendary place in maritime history as the largest ...
08/09/2025

Seawise Giant – The Largest Ship Ever Built

The Seawise Giant holds a legendary place in maritime history as the largest ship ever built, an oil tanker stretching an astonishing 1,504 feet (458.46 meters) in length. From its launch in 1979 to its retirement in 2009, it witnessed decades of service, war damage, multiple name changes, and eventual scrapping—yet its legacy continues to captivate ship enthusiasts around the world.

Construction and Early Service

The vessel was constructed in the late 1970s by Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Japan. Initially commissioned by a Greek businessman, the order was later acquired by Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), owned by Hong Kong shipping magnate C.Y. Tung. Designed to carry enormous quantities of crude oil, the Seawise Giant primarily operated between the Middle East and the United States.

War Damage and Remarkable Salvage

In 1988, during the Iran-Iraq War, the Seawise Giant was transporting Iranian crude oil when it became a target of the Iraqi Air Force. The attack left it heavily damaged and sunk in the shallow waters near Iran’s Kharg Island.
However, its story didn’t end there—Norwegian salvage company Norman International raised the massive tanker, repaired it, and returned it to service under a new name: Happy Giant.

Changes in Ownership and Roles

Not long after, Norwegian shipping magnate Jørgen Jahre purchased the vessel and renamed it Jahre Viking. For years, it continued hauling crude oil across the globe. In 2004, it changed hands again, becoming the Knock Nevis under First Olsen Tankers. By then, its sheer size made it impractical for many ports, so it was anchored off Qatar and used as a floating storage and offloading unit (FSO).

Final Years and Scrapping

After three decades of service, the Knock Nevis was sold for dismantling. In 2010, it was beached at Alang, India, one of the world’s largest ship-breaking yards, and scrapped.

Legacy of a Maritime Giant

The Seawise Giant remains unmatched in length, outstripping even the largest modern supertankers. While its hull is gone, its 36-ton anchor lives on—displayed proudly at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum as a reminder of the golden age of supertankers and the engineering marvels of the 20th century.

In 1901, White Star Line launched the RMS Celtic, the first of its illustrious 'Big Four' vessels, which, at 20,904 gros...
08/09/2025

In 1901, White Star Line launched the RMS Celtic, the first of its illustrious 'Big Four' vessels, which, at 20,904 gross register tons, exceeded the SS Great Eastern. The Celtic's considerable size and efficient cruising speed of 16 knots prompted the company to redefine its priorities, focusing on capacity, luxury amenities, and overall comfort.

📸 Photo colorized by Steve Walker

The Saturnia and Vulcania, sister motor ships built in 1927 and 1928, had notable careers spanning peacetime and wartime...
07/23/2025

The Saturnia and Vulcania, sister motor ships built in 1927 and 1928, had notable careers spanning peacetime and wartime. They were conceived in the early 1920s for the Cosulich Line of Trieste, marking a significant departure from traditional naval architecture and were part of the post-World War I reconstruction efforts.

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