Short answers, pulled from the story.
The largest vessel ever built is the FSO Knock Nevis, which stretched 458 meters in length and weighed 565,000 metric tons. This ship was formerly known as the Jahre Viking and was designed to carry crude oil from the Middle East around the Horn of Africa.
The Greek merchant marine commands the largest fleet in the world today, accounting for approximately 16 percent of global tonnage. Many of these ships fly flags of convenience from countries like Liberia and Panama to bypass stricter maritime laws and lower taxes.
Containerization has revolutionized the shipping industry by allowing goods to be moved quickly and efficiently in standardized containers. This technique enables intermodal freight transport where goods move from ship to truck to train without being unpacked.
Tankers have been responsible for some of the most devastating environmental disasters in history, including the Exxon Valdez and the Erika. These ships carry everything from crude oil to chemicals and have caused massive oil spills when they sink close to coastal regions.
Coastal trading vessels, known as coasters, are smaller ships that carry cargo along coastal routes. These shallow-hulled ships are designed to sail over reefs and other submerged navigation hazards that larger ships cannot reach.