Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC)

Oil is top global traded commodity. The USA alone consumes eight (8) million gallons of crude oil every day and 3 gallons per person per day. China needs 250 million gallons of crude oil per year just to produce ladies’ tights. Current global consumption is 3.5 billion gallons per day.

85% of all crude oil is transported by sea. It is transported over the ocean by super tankers in the VLCC class. They are more than a 1000 feet long and up to 200 feet wide. The deck has surface of about 23,000 square yards. There is room on it for 5 jumbos. In fact, you could easily fit 10 of them on to deck. Each of two anchors weighs 15 tons. The oil pumps force up to 4 million gallons per hour fuel 4 thousand feet long pipes. The engines performance is 37,000 horse powers. It is 4 stories high and weighs 960 tons. The ship’s propeller weighs more than 70 tons and its 35 feet in diameter. The tanker has the capacity of 95 million gallons of crude oil that equals to 4.5 billion bathtubs which if they go lined up would be 5,600 miles long, vests the distance from Texas to top Mont Germany. The vessel drives of 75 feet of water. 2/3 of ship is under water when it is fully loaded. The oil is secured by a 10 feet thick double hull that protects our environment and ensures us attractive market conditions.