new container ship, Ben Franklin in

Largest ship of its kind. The article says it would hold 18 million pairs of shoes!

Wow, I can't believe how many containers they can cram on the upper deck alone.  

I agree this is impressive but you need to take into account that container ships may not always be able to carry their maximum number of containers. The vessel's capacity is generally calculated on each 20ft container (or 20ft slot) weighing 14mt all up including the weight of the container. So if the cargo weights are heavier, say for example, an average of 17mt per 20ft then in the case of the Ben Franklin her maximum lifting would be around 14,800 20ft containers. This of course does not take into account 40ft containers which are no doubt used for all the lightweight 'widgets' moving from Asia to the US and other destinations. And now they are building container ships at 20,000 20ft capacity in a weak shipping market!

It's almost like one whole outside column can fill a 5 unit well car !

Sean007 posted:

Largest ship of its kind. The article says it would hold 18 million pairs of shoes!

Imelda Marcos eat your heart out!

Ian Munro posted:

... And now they are building container ships at 20,000 20ft capacity in a weak shipping market!

Perhaps some older ships will be retired. Probably more efficient to move a mass of containers on a mega-ship, but that's putting a lot of eggs in one basket.

I worked on some of the APL container ships (Washington, Jefferson, Monroe) and was amazed at how many containers they hold, multiple levels deep below the hatches. And the newer ships are much bigger.

18 mil pairs of shoes. It will have to make many trips to supply the needs of the US. just for shoes. I buy about 2 to 4 pairs a year. America has a lot of feet that buy many shoes. Fig, just shoes it would be 35 trips. .LOL

Thinking about retiring the older ships maybe to turn into oil storage facilities. All one does is weld a cover over the top and tie up to a dock as all they are is a bath tub.

Anyone going to do the Ben Franklin in O Scale?  Only 300' long.

Mark S - looks like your units are off–would be a little more than 27 feet long in O scale, i think. Wiki lists it as just under a quarter-mile long.

David

Yes, 27 more like it but even 27 feet is way too long for all but 1 or 2 layouts.LOL to even think of such an undertaking. Also think how many $s in just the containers to part fill the ship. I think one would be thinking over a 100K in just a dock, cranes, and containers let alone the well cars. to load. I can see a nice long photo of the ship along the wall and some crane works in front of the photo. It still being way too much $$$

Sure wish someone would have a 1:48 or 1:50 scale Coastal container ship on the market

David -  Yep, you are correct !! Discount all things numeric I have ever posted !! 

Mark S - I figured it was a typo. Whatever the exact length, it would still be a monster in O scale, as folks have noted. Maybe as part of an outside layout, in water....

David