The Big Tanker Questions thread!

[GuinnessMan OC's Resident Grumpy Old Man Find all posts View Profile Close GuinnessMan]

Hello!

I've noticed that we've been getting the odd question about tankers lately. As these types of vessels are a bit more specialised than others, I thought it's worth it having it's own thread.

I've worked with Black oil, white oil, Chemical, LNG and LPG tankers at one time or another so if you have any tanker related questions at all then do feel free to ask!

[SWonder Find all posts View Profile Close SWonder]

Seeing as I am so interested in Tankers I thought I would kick this off with a couple of questions.

Could somebody please explain to me the exact specifications to obtaining a Dangerous Cargo Endorsement ? I understand you have to do a Tanker Familiarisation course and gain a set amount of sea time but I would like a bit more detail. I have had a look on the MCA website and it seems to me that you need to serve 3 months on a tanker to get the endorsement for Oil,LPG or whatever your cargo type is. How do you go about obtaining Multiple DCE's ?

Does time served on tankers while doing your cadetship count and could you get a DCE when you qualify?

[GuinnessMan OC's Resident Grumpy Old Man Find all posts View Profile Close GuinnessMan]

A DCE can be obtained in a number of ways. The easiest way to go about it is to do your Tanker Fam course, and then (college permitting) do the speciality course for either Oil, Gas or Chemical. The requirements to do this course at Glasgow is either a Tanker Fam certificate or X months sea-time on board a vessel. Generally the college would prefer it for you to have at least been on board one of these vessels before doing the speciality as then you will have more of an idea of what they're talking about as there are whole raft of differences between Oil, Gas and Chemical. Once you have done that, and you have your ticket, then you apply to the MCA for the DCE to be made to your ticket.

What type of tankers are you interested in working on?

[Clanky Find all posts View Profile Close Clanky]

So do I understand you correctly, it is possible to do a tanker familiarisation course and then, for example, an oil speciality course and obtain a DCE without ever having set foot on a tanker?

[GuinnessMan OC's Resident Grumpy Old Man Find all posts View Profile Close GuinnessMan]

So do I understand you correctly, it is possible to do a tanker familiarisation course and then, for example, an oil speciality course and obtain a DCE without ever having set foot on a tanker?

No. You can do the speciality course, but before the MCA endorse your application you have to have been on board for X amount of time (as far as I know, I may be wrong)...

[IainL Find all posts View Profile Close IainL]

Couple of questions

Thanks for answering these.

Which companies are the best to apply for cadetship, to gain the mentioned above experience?

What kind of shift rotation do these ships typically operate?

thanks

[SWonder Find all posts View Profile Close SWonder]

What type of tankers are you interested in working on?[/B]

Thanks for your answer GM, thats exactly what I was looking for. I am sponsored by North Link/ Northern Marine Management partnership and Northern Marine said I should get to do some Sea Time on a Tanker.

I am interested in working on Tankers because I want to do Long Trips and get as much sea time under my belt as I can in the quickest way. I just like the idea of working on tankers and I find them to be pretty interesting.

In terms of what Type of tanker, I would be happy with any really but I guess I am most interested in LNG carriers. It seems to be an area of the market that is expanding quite rapidly and also I believe they are mostly 'Steam' powered. I have done just a tiny amount on Steam at College in my first week and have found it to be very interesting.

[GuinnessMan OC's Resident Grumpy Old Man Find all posts View Profile Close GuinnessMan]

Thanks for your answer GM, thats exactly what I was looking for. I am sponsored by North Link/ Northern Marine Management partnership and Northern Marine said I should get to do some Sea Time on a Tanker.

I am interested in working on Tankers because I want to do Long Trips and get as much sea time under my belt as I can in the quickest way. I just like the idea of working on tankers and I find them to be pretty interesting.

In terms of what Type of tanker, I would be happy with any really but I guess I am most interested in LNG carriers. It seems to be an area of the market that is expanding quite rapidly and also I believe they are mostly 'Steam' powered. I have done just a tiny amount on Steam at College in my first week and have found it to be very interesting.

Ah right. Well give it time and an article will eventually be written on what LNG tankers are and how they work, etc.

[gadget123 Find all posts View Profile Close gadget123]

So is it the same course for deckies and engineers? Looks like it from the warsash website.

[Lewis Find all posts View Profile Close Lewis]

I have Tanker Fam course next month. What happens on a tanker fam course?

[Steve Find all posts View Profile Close Steve]

So is it the same course for deckies and engineers?

Yes.

I have Tanker Fam course next month. What happens on a tanker fam course?

You learn exciting things about how tankers explode, and how not to let this happen.

Then, when you go back to do a specialist tanker safety course for your dangerous cargo endorsement you cover exactly the same material again on a week long course. The process could be simplified if they set the exam on arrival and then only those who failed it need sit/sleep through the week of lectures.

[gadget123 Find all posts View Profile Close gadget123]

Thanks
So if you need seatime on board a tanker to get the endorsement. Does that mean you need to have served on tankers as a cadet be able to work as an officer? or can you work without the endorsement?

[Dingo Find all posts View Profile Close Dingo]

Has anyone done time on DP shuttle tankers? Any thoughts on conditions, workload, etc? Would they be a good experience for a deck cadet? Good once qualified? Thanks.

[Bertthesnurt Find all posts View Profile Close Bertthesnurt]

Hi,


I have a quick question, Is there special qualifications needed to work on a chemical tanker?
If so what are they?

Thanks

[thebrookster Find all posts View Profile Close thebrookster]

The usual quali's as per any ship (STCW/COC/blah blah).

Also, a company will probably want you to have the Chemical DCE (Tanker safety). This is not mandatory, however if the chemical scene is anything like the Oil, the chartering companies will likely insist all officers have the DCE, which would make it pretty much mandatory