Oil tankers carry crude oil, refined products or chemicals between ports, and crew duties revolve around safely loading, transporting and discharging hazardous cargo. That single fact — handling flammable, often toxic cargo — is what separates tanker careers from general cargo or bulk work, and why certification and pay both sit higher.
Rank progression on deck and in the engine room
Deck careers run from Ordinary Seaman through Able Seaman, Third and Second Officer, Chief Officer, and finally Master. Engine careers run from Wiper or Motorman through Fourth, Third and Second Engineer to Chief Engineer. Tanker-specific advancement also depends on accumulating documented tanker sea time, since cargo-handling sign-off requirements are stricter than on other vessel types.
Ordinary Seaman / Wiper → Able Seaman / Motorman
First contracts focus on basic deck or engine room duties, tank cleaning procedures, and building tanker sea time toward officer cadetship or further ratings.
Third / Second Officer, Third / Fourth Engineer
Watchkeeping responsibility begins here, alongside cargo plan execution under a senior officer's supervision.
Chief Officer, Second / Chief Engineer
Full responsibility for cargo operations or the engine department, including crew supervision and compliance documentation.
Master
Overall responsibility for the vessel, crew, and cargo — typically reached after several contracts as Chief Officer and an unlimited Certificate of Competency.
Tanker types and how they differ
Not all tankers carry the same cargo, and the vessel type affects both certification requirements and pay.
| Vessel type | Typical cargo | Certification note |
|---|---|---|
| Crude oil carrier (VLCC/Suezmax) | Unrefined crude oil | Advanced tanker cargo endorsement required |
| Product tanker | Refined fuels, diesel, gasoline | Basic + advanced oil tanker training |
| Chemical tanker | Bulk liquid chemicals | Separate chemical tanker endorsement (V/1-2) |
| AHTS / offshore support | No cargo — vessel support role | DP certification often required, not tanker-specific |
What changes pay the most
Within the same rank, pay differences usually come down to vessel size, flag state, and whether the role is quoted as a day rate or monthly salary. Senior officers on larger crude carriers under reputable ship management typically sit at the top of the published salary range; smaller product tankers and shorter contracts trend toward the lower end.