1-Antonov An-225 Mriya
Capacity: 250,000 kg (550,000 lbs)
The An-225 Mriya holds the title of the largest and heaviest cargo plane ever built. Originally designed for transporting the Soviet space shuttle, this six-engine aircraft can carry massive and oversized cargo. It only has one operational unit, making it a legend in aviation.
Largest Cargo Planes and Ships
2. Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy
Capacity: 140,000 kg (307,000 lbs)
The C-5M Super Galaxy is the largest military transport aircraft in the U.S. Air Force fleet. It can carry oversized military equipment, helicopters, and even other aircraft components. Its unique nose design allows for easier loading of large items.
3. Boeing 747-8F
Capacity: 140,000 kg (307,000 lbs)
The Boeing 747-8F is the largest variant of the famous 747 series and one of the most widely used cargo planes for long-haul freight. Its impressive cargo capacity makes it a favorite among global freight carriers for transporting goods internationally.
4. Antonov An-124 Ruslan
Capacity: 150,000 kg (330,000 lbs)
The An-124 Ruslan is one of the largest cargo aircraft in regular use today. It is often employed for transporting heavy machinery, military equipment, and even trains. It is second only to the An-225 in terms of size and capacity.
5. Airbus A330-200F
Capacity: 65,000 kg (143,000 lbs)
The A330-200F is a versatile cargo aircraft used by many freight carriers. It is known for its fuel efficiency on long-range cargo flights. The plane is optimized for transporting everything from general cargo to live animals.
6. Boeing 777F
Capacity: 102,000 kg (224,900 lbs)
The Boeing 777F is a freighter version of the popular 777 passenger aircraft, designed specifically for long-haul cargo. It offers excellent fuel efficiency and range, making it suitable for international logistics companies.
7. McDonnell Douglas MD-11F
Capacity: 94,700 kg (209,000 lbs)
The MD-11F is a three-engine wide-body freighter, developed as a cargo variant of the MD-11 passenger aircraft. Though no longer in production, it is still in use by major carriers like FedEx and UPS.
8. Antonov An-22 Antei
Capacity: 80,000 kg (176,370 lbs)
The An-22 is the largest turboprop-powered cargo plane and is still in use for special missions. Its high wings allow it to operate from rough and unpaved runways, making it an ideal choice for military and humanitarian missions in remote areas.
9. Airbus BelugaXL
Capacity: 50,500 kg (111,330 lbs)
The BelugaXL, with its distinct whale-like design, is used for transporting oversized parts of Airbus planes between manufacturing facilities. Though not the heaviest lifter, its cargo bay can accommodate outsized items that other planes can't fit.
10. Ilyushin Il-76
Capacity: 50,000 kg (110,230 lbs)
The Il-76 is a Soviet-era strategic airlifter that remains in service in various countries around the world. It has a robust design, allowing it to operate from rough fields, making it useful for military and humanitarian missions.
Here are 10 of the largest cargo vessels in the world by cargo-carrying capacity, primarily focusing on container ships, bulk carriers, and oil tankers:
1. Ever Ace (Container Ship)
Capacity: 23,992 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units)
The Ever Ace is the largest container ship in the world. Operated by Evergreen Marine, it has a capacity just shy of 24,000 TEU. These massive ships are part of the push for increasingly larger container vessels to accommodate global shipping demand.
2. HMM Algeciras (Container Ship)
Capacity: 23,964 TEU
The HMM Algeciras is one of the largest container ships ever built, launched in 2020. Operated by South Korea's HMM, it is part of a series of ships designed to optimize efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
3. MSC Gülsün (Container Ship)
Capacity: 23,756 TEU
Part of the MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) fleet, the MSC Gülsün is one of the largest container ships in operation. It is built to handle massive volumes of cargo, especially on the busy Europe-Asia trade routes.
4. OOCL Hong Kong (Container Ship)
Capacity: 21,413 TEU
The OOCL Hong Kong, owned by Orient Overseas Container Line, was the largest container ship at the time of its launch in 2017. With over 21,000 TEU capacity, it's designed for trans-Pacific routes between Asia and North America.
5. Prelude FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Platform/Ship)
Capacity: 600,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually
Prelude FLNG is not just a cargo ship, but the largest floating structure ever built. It is used for extracting, liquefying, and storing natural gas. Though its primary function is energy production, its massive storage capability places it on this list.
6. TI Class Supertanker (TI Europe) (Oil Tanker)
Capacity: 441,500 DWT (Deadweight Tonnage)
The TI Europe is one of the largest oil tankers in the world, part of the TI class of supertankers. These ships were initially designed to carry crude oil, and they are massive in size, capable of transporting vast amounts of oil.
7. Vale Brasil (Valemax Class Bulk Carrier)
Capacity: 402,347 DWT
Vale Brasil is one of the largest bulk carriers in the world, designed to transport iron ore from Brazil to Asia, especially China. The Valemax class bulk carriers are known for their huge capacity and efficiency in transporting raw materials.
8. Pioneering Spirit (Heavy Lift Vessel)
Capacity: 48,000 tonnes (lifting capacity)
The Pioneering Spirit is the largest construction vessel, designed for installing and removing large oil and gas platforms and laying pipelines. While not a traditional cargo ship, its lifting capacity is unmatched in the world of heavy maritime engineering.
9. Berge Stahl (Bulk Carrier)
Capacity: 364,767 DWT
The Berge Stahl is one of the largest bulk carriers, primarily transporting iron ore. Its size restricts it to only a few deep-water ports in Europe and Asia due to its draft and enormous carrying capacity.
10. Q-Max LNG Carrier (Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier)
Capacity: 266,000 cubic meters of LNG
The Q-Max vessels are the largest type of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, specifically designed for the Qatari LNG market. These ships are optimized for efficiency, allowing them to carry up to 80% more LNG compared to smaller LNG carriers.
