Google Sightseeing » Kuwait

The Mystery of the World’s Largest Wooden Ship

Alex Turnbull — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:27:56 +0000

In 2001 the Radisson Hotels & Resorts chain built a huge ship next to one of their hotels in Kuwait, and they called it the Al-Hashemi-II. They issued a press release at the time, claiming that at 83.7 metres long, the Al-Hashemi-II was now officially the World’s Largest Wooden Ship, and had duly been entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.

However, things are never that simple in the world of Google Sightseeing!

So what’s the problem? Well, I checked my copy of the Guinness Book of World Records (you really need one to write for this site), and guess what? There is no entry for “World’s Largest Wooden Ship”!

The ship’s website has a picture of an official looking Guinness World Record certificate, but I have doubts about the credibility of this evidence.

Firstly, the ship’s length is stated on that certificate as 80.4 metres — 3.3 metres less than the press release. Of course, it is entirely possible that the CNN transcript of the press release was in error here. However, the “official” certificate even has an obvious typo — “owners ofRadisson”.

If you look closely you’ll see that the certificate also has an odd disclaimer on the bottom:

But before you get too excited, I’m afraid that all Guinness certificates have that very disclaimer.

But the most damning evidence against the claim that this is the “World’s Largest Wooden Ship” is the indisputable truth that ships are built for the sea, and this “ship” was actually designed and built to be a museum and restaurant. It has never, and will never set sail.

Fully disqualifying the Al-Hashemi-II I worked my way through Wikipedia’s “List of world’s largest wooden ships“, and the first decent candidate for the title is actually the recently constructed 65 metre long SV Tenacious, which has the distinction of being the World’s Largest Wooden Ship Still Afloat.

Unfortunately, being it a working ship, I have no idea where to find it in Google Earth…

Thanks to Virtual Globetrotting.

Locations: Kuwait / Categories: Buildings, Shadows, Watercraft

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That Others May Live

James Turnbull — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:19:30 +0000

At a Kuwait air base we see “That Others May Live” written on the ground. This is the motto of the Pararescuemen (or ‘PJs’), an elite team whose duty it is to rescue downed pilots – often behind enemy lines. They also perform civilian recoveries when the only suitable form of rescue is someone jumping out of a plane to save you.

Beside the motto they’ve also painted bigfoot’s footprints, perhaps the logo for an elite team of Pararescue Yeti?

Thanks: James Turnbull

Locations: Kuwait / Categories: Large Type

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Kuwait Towers

James Turnbull — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 18:01:04 +0000

The Kuwait Towers are on the waterfront in Kuwait City. Built in 1979 these three towers have a dual function as both entertainment facilities and water reservoirs but you’ll probably recognise them from the backdrop of every news report that has been broadcast from Kuwait. I wonder if they have a little cordoned off area for international correspondents to do their reports from?

The largest tower has two spheres, the upper is a revolving observation deck with cafeteria and the lower sphere has 3 restaurants in the top part and a one million gallon water reservoir in the bottom. It’s easiest to make out the spheres in the tower’s shadow.

The middle sized tower has another one million gallon water reservoir in the sphere and lastly the thin tower has 96 concealed spotlights which illuminate the other two towers and the surrounding area.

Also in Kuwait is the Liberation Tower, built in 1996 to celebrate Kuwait’s liberation from the occupying Iraqis. At the time of construction it was the third tallest tower in the world at 1221 feet but now it has been relegated to 11th place.

Thanks: Samer, Kenny, JKO, B.J. Olejnik, David Lawrence, David Lawrence, Mark, Erin, Erin, Magdalena Michel, Alrayyes & Freddie M

Locations: Kuwait / Categories: Shadows, Towers

View in Google Earth