Oil tankers are merchant vessels whose task is to transport oil and petroleum products. All ships in this category are divided into two types. The first type is intended for the transportation of crude unrefined oil. They transport raw materials from the extraction site to the oil refinery. It is called crude oil tankers. The second type is product tankers. With its help, the finished product is transported from the oil refinery directly to the buyer. Such vessels transport petroleum oils, kerosene, gasoline, jet fuel and other refined petroleum products. Otherwise, such tankers are referred to as product carriers.
Tanker classification
The most important classification of tankers is the classification depending on deadweight. So, depending on the deadweight and dimensions, the types of tankers can be:
Seawaymax are large vessels that are capable of transporting petroleum products, as well as non-aggressive products from the chemical industry. Depending on the deadweight, they may also vary: up to 10 thousand tons - for transporting small quantities of petroleum products, making short voyages in the coastal zone; from 10 to 60 thousand tons are engaged in transporting products to large buyers. Tanker vessels of about 20 thousand tons are specially designed for navigation in cold Arctic waters. In addition, they ensure uninterrupted operation throughout the whole year, regardless of the season.
Panamax have their distinctive name because they comply with the size limits set by the Panama Canal.
Aframax is sized according to the AFRA tanker tariff system.
These tankers are limited in size, which allows them to pass through the Suez Canal.
Malaccamax are large-capacity vessels characterized by a draft of up to 21 meters. Their limit is passage through the Mallaxim Strait.
ULCCs are even larger tankers called supertankers. The abbreviation stands for UltraLargeCrudeCarrier. These are the world's largest tankers. Only 7 ships of this class are known in the world. The most popular are Malaccamax.
By contacting a crewing agency, you can find many offers to work on tankers of various classes. All vacancies on tankers require seafarers to have appropriate knowledge, qualifications and experience. To prepare, you can always take additional courses and receive appropriate international certificates.
