Oil Tanker Course

Lesson 1 • Shipboard Organisation and Crew Roles

Defines the command hierarchy and responsibilities of deck, engine, and cargo departments. Provides context for teamwork and accountability in tanker operations.

Lesson 2 • Tanker Industry Stakeholders and Trade Routes

Maps the commercial ecosystem including charterers, operators, terminals, and insurers. Helps students understand how operational decisions affect commercial outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory Framework for Tanker Operations

Introduces international maritime conventions governing tanker safety and pollution prevention. Connects regulatory compliance to daily operational decisions.

Lesson 1 • Stability Theory for Tankers

Covers metacentric height, free surface effect, and righting lever curves specific to tankers. Provides the physics basis for safe cargo distribution decisions.

Lesson 2 • Loading and Ballast Conditions

Analyses full-load, partial-load, and ballast voyage stability scenarios. Prepares students to evaluate trim and stress before departure.

Lesson 3 • Stability Instruments and Software

Introduces onboard loading computers and stability software used in practice. Bridges theoretical stability knowledge to real-time operational tools.

Lesson 4 • Damage Stability and Subdivision

Explains flooding scenarios, damage stability calculations, and subdivision requirements. Equips students to assess survivability after hull breach.

Lesson 1 • Cargo Classification and Compatibility

Explains cargo categories by hazard class and compatibility requirements for multi-cargo vessels. Prevents dangerous cargo mixing and contamination incidents.

Lesson 2 • Cargo Documentation and Safety Data

Reviews cargo manifests, material safety data sheets, and pre-transfer information requirements. Ensures students can verify cargo identity and communicate hazards.

Lesson 3 • Physical and Chemical Properties of Petroleum

Covers flash point, vapour pressure, density, and viscosity as they relate to tanker operations. Establishes the property knowledge needed for safe cargo handling.

Lesson 1 • Inert Gas and Venting Systems

Covers inert gas generator operation, deck seal function, and pressure-vacuum valve systems. Establishes the link between atmosphere control and explosion prevention.

Lesson 2 • Cargo Pumping Systems

Covers centrifugal, reciprocating, and submerged pump types along with their operating principles. Provides the mechanical foundation for all cargo transfer operations.

Lesson 3 • Cargo Heating and Viscosity Control

Explains steam and electric heating coil systems used for high-viscosity crude and fuel oil cargoes. Prepares students to maintain pumpable cargo temperatures throughout the voyage.

Lesson 4 • Tank Gauging and Measurement

Introduces ullage measurement, temperature correction, and volume calculation methods. Connects accurate measurement to cargo quantity verification and commercial accuracy.

Lesson 1 • Discharging Operations

Covers pump start-up, back-pressure management, stripping, and final tank draining procedures. Ensures students can maximise cargo outturn and minimise residue.

Lesson 2 • Loading operations

Details initial rate control, topping-off procedures, and tank overflow prevention during loading. Builds competency in managing the most critical phase of cargo intake.

Lesson 3 • Ship-to-ship transfer operations

Addresses mooring, fender deployment, and cargo transfer procedures during ship-to-ship (STS) operations. Prepares students for the additional hazards of offshore transfers.

Lesson 4 • Pre-transfer planning and cargo plans

Covers sequence planning, stability checks, and communication with terminals before transfer begins. Establishes the planning discipline that prevents operational errors.

Lesson 1 • Atmosphere testing and monitoring

Covers gas detector types, calibration, and multi-point testing protocols before and during tank entry. Ensures students can verify safe atmospheric conditions independently.

Lesson 2 • Slop tank management and MARPOL compliance

Explains slop retention, oil-water separation, and overboard discharge criteria under pollution prevention rules. Connects tank cleaning waste to environmental compliance.

Lesson 3 • Gas freeing procedures

Details ventilation methods, portable fan use, and atmosphere progression from inert to gas-free. Directly enables safe tank entry and hot work authorisation.

Lesson 4 • Crude oil washing (COW) operations

Covers COW machine operation, washing patterns, and integration with discharge to reduce residue. Establishes COW as both a cleaning and cargo recovery technique.

Lesson 1 • Fixed fire detection and suppression systems

Covers smoke, heat, and gas detection systems alongside fixed foam, CO2, and water spray systems. Prepares students to activate and maintain shipboard fixed systems.

Lesson 2 • Portable firefighting equipment

Reviews portable extinguisher types, fire hose deployment, and foam application techniques. Builds hands-on first-response capability for initial fire attack.

Lesson 3 • Emergency muster and firefighting organisation

Explains muster station duties, fire team roles, and command communication during emergencies. Ensures students understand their assigned role in the ship's emergency plan.

Lesson 4 • Cargo fire and explosion response

Addresses response to cargo tank fires, deck fires, and explosion risk management. Prepares students for the most severe fire scenarios unique to tanker operations.

Lesson 1 • Spill response and contingency planning

Covers spill containment, notification chains, and shipboard oil pollution emergency plan activation. Equips students to minimise environmental damage and meet reporting obligations.

Lesson 2 • Oil pollution prevention regulations

Covers discharge prohibitions, special area rules, and equipment certification requirements under pollution prevention conventions. Establishes the regulatory baseline for all environmental decisions.

Lesson 3 • Air emissions and fuel compliance

Addresses sulphur content limits, NOx emission tiers, and fuel changeover procedures in emission control areas. Prepares students to manage fuel compliance during voyages.

Lesson 4 • Oily water separator and monitoring systems

Covers oily water separator operation, 15 ppm alarm, and overboard discharge monitoring equipment. Connects equipment operation to legal discharge compliance.