SHIP AHOY!

Ten questions about gigantic ships and other vessels

BY Karin Schätzle

QUESTIONS 1 The world’s largest bulk carriers are over 360 metres long and 65 metres wide. The Valemax class ships carry up to 400,000 tonnes of cargo. How do these colossuses manage to float instead of sinking from their own weight? a) Their shape assists in remaining buoyant. b) Helium in their double bottom gives them buoyancy. c) Ships are made of aluminium. d) A ship’s total weight is at most equal to the amount of water they displace. 2 Chinese junks under took great voyages long before Europeans took to the world’s oceans. Marco Polo made his return trip from China in 1292 on such a ship. Even then, junks had … a) a stern rudder. b) a keel-less, flat bottom. c) watertight bulkheads. d) all of the above. 3 Only the best sailors have a chance in ocean races.…

You're reading a preview of

Reader’s Digest New Zealand (Digital) - 1 Issue, June / July 2024

DiscountMags is a licensed distributor (not a publisher) of the above content and Publication through Zinio LLC. Accordingly, we have no editorial control over the Publications. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers or other information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including those made in Publications offered on our website, are those of the respective author(s) or publisher(s) and not of DiscountMags. DiscountMags does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or usefulness of all or any portion of any publication or any services or offers made by third parties, nor will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information contained in any Publication, or your use of services offered, or your acceptance of any offers made through the Service or the Publications. For content removal requests, please contact Zinio.