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About the full size Ark.

General:
After the first Ark, that was built by Johan Huibers, has been traveling through Holland more than a year now, the time seems to have come to build a full size Ark that will travel world wide. The “small Noah’s Ark” (about half the real size) will keep sailing through the Netherlands to receive visitors. But in the mean time the building of the “Big Ark” has begun. The desire to bring this beautiful Bible story back to life, in a visible and unique way, is the drive not just to reach the Dutch people, but as many as want to hear it, worldwide!

Technical facts:
26 barges are now located in Sliedrecht (southern Holland). They are being welded together. The total length of the amount of welding is 5km (a little over three miles) and would take about 70 weeks for one person. The barges are 18.75 meters (20.50 yards) long , and 9.50 meters (10.40 yards) wide. They come from the US.There’s a 15 cm (6 inches) space between each barge to make it more flexible which is nescesarry at sea. De sizes of the new Ark are based on the sizes mentioned in the Bible. There is difference of opinion about the exact length of the Biblical El, because it is the size from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and it depends on how large people were in the days of Noah. But in general the El is believed to be 46 cm (18.4 inches). The big Ark is going to be 140 meters (153,2 yards) long, 25 meters (27,35 yards) wide and 18 meters (19,7 yards) high. The big Ark can hold 10.000 people at one time!

About building:
Soon the second layer of barges will be put on top of the lower ones. The big Ark will take more shape then even if it’s still all iron. But it won’t take too long after that before the first wood will appear on the outerside! Daily three men are welding, cutting and doing other work that needs to be done. Behind the scenes there are people that are sawing, calculating, drawing and organizing. About 12.000 trees are needed for the big Ark and of course this is certified wood. The interior of the big Ark will possibly be comparable with the first Ark that Johan built, but there are several ideas and options that are to be considered yet. The project gets a lot of support in Sliedrecht through voluntary workers and businesses that provide tools and machines. Besides that, the builder Johan uses the money that comes in from the “small Ark” for building the big one. In short, it’s a gigantic project again.

(All info is based on present information and may be changed over time, but at least this gives you an idea of what is happening).

Will be continued, sorry, we’re still working on the website…

25 Responses

  1. Barbara Patton, on August 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm Said:

    I loved the story about the “Small Ark” and I can’t until the “Big Ark” is built and travels to the US. I live in Birmingham, ALabama and I would love to see it. You guys have done a wonderful thing and I believe that so many people have taken GOD out of everything and it is important to let people see and to know that without him we are nothing. May God Bless You Guys and take Care.

    Barbara Patton
    Upchurch, Watson, White & Max
    2000-A SouthBridge Parkway
    suite 400
    Birmingham, AL 35209
    888/435-9033
    bpatt@uww-adr.com

    Reply
  2. Rick Bukovec, on August 27th, 2008 at 9:56 pm Said:

    I read somewhere that no wood has the strength to weight ratio needed to produce a vessel even near these dimensions. Is this why you’re using steel as a base for this “replica?” Is this an experiment?

    Reply
  3. Paul Stokholm, on August 28th, 2008 at 4:09 am Said:

    Thank you Jackie for the update on the “Big Ark”, it is exciting to see the progress you are making. It was a wonderful experience seeing the “Small Ark” this past spring. God Bless you!

    Reply
  4. Jacky Baken, on August 28th, 2008 at 9:01 am Said:

    Ark Stability
    Question: How was the ark made seaworthy? The longest wooden ships in modern seas are about 300 feet, and these require reinforcing with iron straps and leak so badly they must be constantly pumped. The ark was 450 feet long [Gen. 6:15].

    Answer: This argument is often parroted, but is just as bogus as the others. The Ark was built for stability, not movement. A flat-bottomed barge like the Ark wouldn’t have problems with sag. If the lower deck were made of logs, four layers deep, it would have been very sturdy. If they were teak logs, especially specially treated by being buried for a while, the ark would have been especially seaworthy. Woodmorappe points this out too, and much more, so it is dishonest to ignore that. Korean naval architects have confirmed that a barge with the Ark’s dimensions would have optimal stability. They concluded that if the wood were only 30 cm thick, it could have navigated sea conditions with waves higher than 30 m (S.W. Hong et al., “Safety investigation of Noah’s Ark in a Seaway”, CEN Technical Journal 8(1):26–36, 1994. All the co-authors are on the staff of the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, Taijon.)
    http://www.trueorigin.org/arkdefen.asp

    Thanks for your comment Rick. No this is not an experiment but we want to invite people to think about the flood and all that has to do with it! Come see us sometime!
    Greetings, Jacky

    Reply
  5. christo, on October 1st, 2008 at 8:08 am Said:

    fantastic idea…would love to see this ark come to south africa if it happens to drift this way.
    c

    Reply
  6. A M, on October 2nd, 2008 at 3:44 pm Said:

    I would love to see it come into Florida!! What a site that must be to see in person :)

    Reply
  7. Ellie Hilgers, on October 4th, 2008 at 3:05 pm Said:

    This is truley a monumental undertaking by everyone involved and I along with so many of God’s Children pray for you and pray that you achieve all that you desire in this and the next life. Anyone that has the tenacity and wearwithall to struggle with the exact dimensions and not only do this once but TWICE…will surely inherit the kingdom of heaven! Great work Guys..and to people that say things like I hope the boat drifts this way…I am sure a creation like this will be towed and toured carefully and lovingly , like it has ben since its conception! Do you think you could come to the great lakes? Love Ellie.

    Reply
  8. Elaine, on October 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm Said:

    I love what Jonah did. I hope Jonah’s Ark inspires the people of the Netherland’s, and around the world seek out the Lord.

    Reply
  9. Beverly, on October 7th, 2008 at 5:47 pm Said:

    Thank you Johan for what you have done to share the word of God with so many people. If all of us that are believers worked as hard as you have on this project, the world would be a much better place.

    We love you as our brother in Jesus Christ!

    Beverly in Huntsville, AL

    Reply
  10. Bryan Isheim, on October 7th, 2008 at 6:49 pm Said:

    I love what you are doing here! It will be very interesting to see the progress on your blog with Ark #2. When it is complete, will it fit under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California? I would love to see it. I have been to see the U.S.S. Hornet docked there. May God Bless You on this next adventure!

    Reply
  11. Kim Hagen Jensen, on October 14th, 2008 at 9:04 am Said:

    Wonderfull! Someone has the faith to build the ark again. The though of building the ark fulsize, as a witness for God, has come to me earlier. Yet I’m am pleased to see that It has already happen in Holland. God bless!
    Make a trip to Denmark one day!

    Reply
  12. Jerry Hussey, on October 14th, 2008 at 11:16 pm Said:

    My wife and I visited the “little Ark” in Urk, NL on September 27, 2008. What a fantastic visit it was! The detail and the abundance of video screens depicting many of Disney’s Bible Stories was outstanding. The construction was amazing and the attention to detail was to behold.

    To all, if this wonderful group can get the “Big Ark” to make a world tour, go see it at it’s closest location to you. I hope it comes to the US for I will go to either coast to see it. I live in suburban Chicago – Wonder Lake, IL and would not hesitate to go to NY, Miami, or LA to see it.

    I know God is smiling down on you! What a testament!

    Reply
  13. Pam, on October 20th, 2008 at 5:10 pm Said:

    Wonderful! Please send either ark to Southern California!

    Reply
  14. Daniel, on October 24th, 2008 at 8:59 pm Said:

    Johan is doing something very useful for human kind, there’s no doubt that God is working through him. I hope the ark will travel even in Italy, I will invite all my friends to visit it and all my family.

    God bless you Johan and all your family! :-)

    Reply
  15. Murray Gillies, on October 25th, 2008 at 10:04 pm Said:

    Fantastic. I pray that it will get to come to Scotland. I agree with Jerry and believe that God is indeed smiling down on you, what a testament. I look forward to updates.

    God bless you in your project.

    Reply
  16. Jefe, on October 30th, 2008 at 9:21 pm Said:

    How on earth is the Ark story considered beautiful?
    It is a story of mass slaughter and genocide on an unprecedented scale.

    Reply
  17. Ricky Estrada (Manila, Philippines), on November 1st, 2008 at 4:13 am Said:

    This is a wonderful idea. Truly will show God’s love for his people in particular and creation in general. I would like to support this project. Please let me know how.

    Reply
  18. Chris & Hye Jung, on November 1st, 2008 at 4:36 am Said:

    Wow! My wife and I are bible teachers in South India. As we see in the Bible how possible it is what God told to Noah as skeptics does not believe in it. You have done great Job! It witnesses to the World that Our God is great and His merciful act of salvation towards the humanity.

    Speaking in Human understanding, it is impossible for many of us to come and see the Ark in Netherlands from Third World County like India, However we could see them in you website.

    Thanks for effort.

    May God bless you as you witness Him.

    Reply
  19. gail, on November 2nd, 2008 at 3:43 am Said:

    Questions regarding the ability for the ark to be deemed sea worthy is really pointless. The whole story of Noah and the ark is full of miracles. The fact that the entire world was destroyed yet a man made boat survived is a miracle, the fact that every animal that exists fit into the the ark is a miracle, and the fact that they had room for all the supplies for all those animals was a miracle. Think of a size of zoo and zoos don’t have all animal in existance in them. Think of the amount of food all those animals need to eat for an extended period of time. It was a huge miracle. Just like god made room for all the animals and supplies, he made the ark “sea worthy”

    Reply
  20. Steve Gallo, on November 4th, 2008 at 5:19 am Said:

    I first saw the website of the “little” ark. I was so blessed that it made me cry. I have been so depressed lately by the Godlessness taking over our society here in the U.S., but this has truely lifted my spirits! God is great, and this Ark shows us just a hint of it. Thanks Johan for your obidience to God.

    Reply
  21. Donna Lewis, on November 5th, 2008 at 8:54 pm Said:

    May God richly bless and reward you in this project. Your unswerving dedication is amazing. I hope to see you in the great state of Virginia some day.

    Reply
  22. Pat SA, on November 12th, 2008 at 12:08 pm Said:

    May your work and testimony bring the Light to all who had doubts before! I am of Dutch descent (lived in Tilburg for a year) and feel a special pain for the poeple of the Netherlands who have shunned God for so long. God bless!

    Reply
  23. Terry Smith, on November 18th, 2008 at 6:46 pm Said:

    God bless you for working so hard to encourage the truth to come to life to bless those who do not believe.

    Noah witnessed for 120 years while building the ark and I truely believe that many, many of those souls were brought to believe in God through it all. They were part of the large company of believers waiting for Jesus Christ to come down and deliver them as it tells us in 1 Peter 3:18-21.
    18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the dlesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” 19 “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;” 20 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” 21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away fof the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good consciennce toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.:”
    God bless you!

    Reply
  24. john knol, Neerlandia AB, Canada, on November 23rd, 2008 at 2:05 am Said:

    what a great way to spread GOD’S word.

    Reply
  25. Julie Goeman, on December 5th, 2008 at 11:22 am Said:

    I am not one to travel, but I believe I must! I have to see it with my own eyes. The ark must be so awesome to behold:) INCREDIBLE! I am so thankful that Johan Huibers had this vision, followed his dream, and made this into reality. WOW! This is just unfathomable to me.

    Reply

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