Working on Oil Tanker ships is by far the toughest job for seafarers. There is an overwhelming level of responsibility associated with each crew member going aboard as compared to dry cargo carriers. Workers have to be extra agile and watchful about the operation of the vessel to avoid probable accidents, which are most likely to happen with Oil Tankers as history stands to witness.
There are two basic types of oil tankers; Product tankers and VLCC (very large crude carriers). Given the risks involved with working on oil tankers, each rank on the ship is compensated proportionally well.
Deck Officers
The deck crew consists of a captain/master and assisting officers. Most tankers and carrier ships have three mates; first, second, and third officers. The Captain/Master is responsible to supervise the entire crew and the vessel. As the master of deck, engine, safety, crew members, cargo, and international compliances, he has day-to-day affairs to look after at the ship and the heads of other departments respond to him.
The First Mate is also the Chief Officer who is the head of the deck department and can take over the captain is incapacitated. He is second-in-command to the Captain and may be responsible to train the crew under him on various aspects. The Second Officer overtakes the navigational duties of the vessel and is the next-in authority to the Master and Chief. He is also a qualified OICNW (Officer In-charge of Navigational Watch) and the Third Officer is junior to him who controls the matter of ship safety such as gear lockers, lifeboats, etc.
All officers on tankers are required a minimum Bachelor’s degree from the marine academy, along with a Merchant Marine certificate, as stated by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Engine Crew
An oil tanker propels with the engine and the crew manning it. The engine department is under the command of the Chief Engineer and three officers assisting him. Additionally, there is an Electrical Officer who has another vital position in the department as he in charge of the electrical system on the ship and reports directly to the Chief Engineer.
Oilers, Fitters, and Wipers perform routine maintenance and keep the cleanliness and inventory of supplies in check. Bachelor’s degree is mandatory for the posts of engineering officers whereas oilers and wipers can have a diploma and learn their skills on-site.
Deckhand & Sailors
Keeping the ship in order, cleaning the interior, chipping rust, and loading or unloading cargo is the duty of the deckhand and sailors. A Boatswain supervises the manning crew on deck, and a Pumpman is responsible to monitor repairs, correct leakages, and grease fittings, to name a few. All sailors must have a Transportation Worker’s Identification Certificate from the Department of Homeland Security to be able to secure a position on an oil tanker.
A cadet is a trainee who is present in every department of a merchant vessel. He assists the crew onboard and learns the duties of the ranks above him.
Learn more about seafarers’ salaries on Oil Tankers from the table below. At NauticsJob, you can filter down your choices of maritime careers to begin applying right now.
This table is compiled using references from online job-postings, articles, and charts – calculated as average monthly wages for each rank.
| Oil Tanker | Rank | Average salaries Product | Average salaries VLCC |
| Deck | Captain / Master | $ 12,000 | $ 14,100 |
| Deck | Chief Officer | $ 9,625 | $ 9,531 |
| Deck | Second Officer | $ 4,400 | $ 4,400 |
| Deck | Third Officer | $ 3,550 | $ 3,450 |
| Deck | Boatswain | $ 2,225 | $ 2,225 |
| Deck | Able Seaman | $ 1,700 | $ 1,700 |
| Deck | Ordinary Seaman | $ 1,100 | $ 1,100 |
| Deck | Pumpman | $ 2,375 | $ 2,375 |
| Engine | Chief Engineer | $ 11,600 | $ 11,750 |
| Engine | Second Engineer | $ 9,531 | $ 10,400 |
| Engine | Third Engineer | $ 4,400 | $ 4,400 |
| Engine | 4th (Junior) Engineer | $ 3,550 | $ 3,450 |
| Engine | Electrical Officer (ETO) | $ 3,400 | $ 4,755 |
| Engine | Oiler | $ 1,700 | $ 1,700 |
| Engine | Fitter/Welder | $ 2,225 | $ 2,225 |
| Egine | Wiper | $ 1,100 | $ 1,100 |
| Steward | Chief Cook | $ 2,025 | $ 2,025 |
| Steward | Messman | $ 1,700 | $ 1,700 |
| Other | Cadet | $ 827.50 | $ 827.50 |
