Oil tanker (petroleum tanker) is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are divided in two major types:
- Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries.
- Product tankers, generally much smaller, are designed to move refined products from refineries to points near consuming markets.
The Oil tankers size classes range from inland or coastal tankers of a few thousand metric tons of deadweight (DWT) to the mammoth ultra large crude carriers (ULCCs) of 550,000 DWT. Tankers move approximately 2,000,000,000 metric tons (2.2×109 short tons) of oil every year.
The oil tanker industry started in the 1860s and the first biggest oil tanker was driven by wind sails. The Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company were the pioneers in steam engine tankers. The first was the Vaderland, built in 1873.
The 1870s biggest oil tanker was designed by the Swedish Ludvig and Robert Noble. The tanker was constructed in 1878 and her name was Zoroaster. The biggest oil tanker of that time carried the oil into two iron tanks and had capacity of 242 long tons. She was 184 feet long, her beam was 27 ft and 9 ft draft.
The Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) can transport 2,000,000 barrels (320,000 m3) of oil/318,000 metric tons. Because of the size, supertankers often can not enter port fully loaded. these ships can take on their cargo at off-shore platforms and single-point moorings.
On the other end of the journey, they often pump their cargo off to smaller tankers at designated lightering points off-coast. A supertanker's routes are generally long, requiring it to stay at sea for extended periods, up to and beyond seventy days at a time.
According to E-how, Oil tankers offer a number of possible jobs, including typical sea-faring occupations which responsibility for the operation of the tanker and safety of crew and cargo. Following Oil Tankers Crews:
Tanker Officers
The captain/master of a tanker is the person who holds ultimate responsibility for the operation of the tanker and safety of crew and cargo.
Captains are assisted in this task by mates or deck officers. Most large ships have three: a first, second and third mate. The first mate has the most authority and would take over if the captain is incapacitated. Officers on a tanker typically hold a bachelor’s degree from a marine academy as well as a merchant marine credential, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some may obtain their position through gradually increasing experience rather than formal education. They usually must have a Transportation Worker’s Identification Credential from the Department of Homeland Security.
Manning the Ship
Sailors or deckhands comprise most of an oil tanker’s crew. With the exception of the engine and motor, their job is to keep the ship in good repair and working order. They might paint, chip rust, clean the interior or help load and unload cargo. Some ships have a boatswain, a sailor who is the deck crew chief. A degree is not typically required, and seamen get most of their training on the job. Six months to a year is usually the time period for training. At that point the sailor must pass an exam to become an able seaman, which indicates he has experience. Like officers, sailors must have a TWIC.
Moving On
Engineers in a tanker are responsible for the ship’s propulsion system, which includes the engine, boilers, generators and pumps. A tanker typically has a chief engineer and three assistant engineers. They are assisted by marine oilers, the engine room equivalent of sailors. Engineers and oilers perform routine maintenance on the electrical, refrigeration and ventilation systems, regulate the vessel’s speed according to the captain’s orders, lubricate moving parts and keep inventory of parts and supplies. Engineers usually must have a bachelor’s degree, but oilers have a high school diploma and learn their skills on the job.
Salaries
Marine occupations such as those found on an oil tanker are projected to grow 13 percent from 2012 to 2022. This is about average compared to all occupations, according to the BLS. The BLS reports salaries for jobs on oil tankers vary according to position. Sailors and marine oilers earned an average annual salary of $40,690 in 2013. Engineers earned $75,650 annually, while captains and mates earned $75,580.
Image from Marine Insight
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