The world’s largest oil tanker featured a single propeller equipped with a nozzle, as…

The world’s largest oil tanker featured a single propeller equipped with a nozzle, as well as elevators providing access to the pump room. Named *Esso Atlantic*, the vessel was launched on February 10, 1977, and delivered on August 11 of the same year by the Hitachi Zosen shipyard in Ariake, Japan (hull number 4484). It was operated by Esso Tankers under the Liberian flag. The tanker had an overall length of approximately 406.6 meters, a breadth of 71.1 meters, and a fully loaded draft of about 25 meters. Its registered specifications indicate a deadweight tonnage of 516,893 tons and a gross tonnage of approximately 234,600 tons. It boasted a crude oil capacity of 611,200 cubic meters—equivalent to roughly 3.84 million barrels. Powered by a 45,000-horsepower Hitachi UC-450 steam turbine, the vessel could reach an operational speed of approximately 15.5 knots. Designed to transport oil from the Middle East to Europe, this supertanker combined immense scale with automated machinery, allowing the engine room to operate without the need for constant human presence. Fuel-efficiency measures included a five-stage steam-bleeding system for feedwater heating, while crude oil washing (COW) and inert gas systems were employed to mitigate risks within the massive cargo tanks. During a period of weakness in the oil tanker market, the vessel spent some time laid up near Ålesund before returning to service. After its initial period of service under the Liberian flag, it was registered in the Bahamas. In 1990, it was sold to the Ceres company, renamed *Captain Giannis*—sailing under the Greek flag—and remained in service until it was scrapped in Pakistan in 2002.