Blue Marlin: Largest Sea Faring Carrier
The dimensions and contour is almost incomprehensible. It is most difficult to not heed her imposing presence. Blue Marlin ship is the globe’s largest seagoing carrier across the oceans. The sturdy carrier can transport an oil rig, or 22 barges, or a couple of submarines, even a couple of aircraft carriers. The semi-submersible was built purely for the transport of these massive constructs.
She is the biggest powerhouse ship on the ocean. Weighing an impressive 60,000 tonnes the Blue Marlin can load and carry additional 75,000 tonnes with absolute ease. At just over 700 feet in length and 149 in depth, the Marlin’s width is the most impressive. She measures two football fields in width and which allows her to carry mammoth structures such as rigs and up to 22 barges. Apparently a larger carrier ship is set to be launched at the end of 2012 and she will be the newest member of the Blue Marlin team. Designed to out-do the Marlin is most ways, she will carry a maximum weight of 110,000 tonnes. Now that’s impressive, but one still cannot dispute the legend that is the current Blue Marlin. Her freight and shipping capabilities are powerful and extremely dramatic.
The Blue Marlin has a crew of 24 because it takes some seriously experienced deck hands to ensure her colossal cargo is placed and secured perfectly and safely each and every single time. It requires experienced men to ensure that the massive semi-submersible does exactly what she was designed for. Her ballast tanks fill with water, which then allows the Blue Marlin to perform a controlled sink to a depth of 15 metres. The cargo is then moved across the water onto the back on the Marlin. The water is pumped out of the ballast tanks and the ship rises so the cargo sits on top of the water, making it is ready for transportation. The crew’s job is extremely intensive and their responsibilities are heightened according to the risk and cargo their ship carries. The position of the cargo in relation to the ship is critically important.
The largest structure transported by the Blue Marlin was BP’s 60,000 tonne oil rig, still considered the largest offshore structure in the world. After loading the rig was transported all the way from Korea to the Gulf of Mexico. Clearly air freight forwarders would not work for this cargo shipment as it would have to be done in many pieces and many different trips. The structure stretched was so big stretched wider than the ship which means it stood out 55 metres on both sides. This is not the only mammoth shipment transported on the back of the imposing ship.
The Blue Marlin was commissioned by the US Navy to transport their USS Cole back to the States after it was damaged bombing attack during the Iraqi war. For the Marlin this was an easily loaded cargo. The stricken craft was then shipped back to its United States base. Now, as the bigger sister of the Blue Marlin makes its debut at the end of 2012, we cannot wait to see what she will carry.
We understand that economics have a financial snow ball effect on global industries, but it’s really interesting to note how a simple product launch, such as the iPhone 5, can send air cargo into the profitable margin, and help the industry bounce back from some serious recession repercussions.
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