{"id":100054,"date":"2026-10-26T08:16:54","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T08:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/?p=100054"},"modified":"2026-10-26T08:16:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T08:16:55","slug":"what-is-an-oil-tanker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/what-is-an-oil-tanker","title":{"rendered":"What Is an Oil Tanker? Types, Sizes and How They Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"chb-post\">\n\n<p class=\"chb-updated\">Last updated: 26 October 2026 &middot; By Steve Joury, cargo trip advisor at CargoHolidays<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"chb-lede\"><strong>An oil tanker is a ship designed to carry oil in bulk, either crude oil from oilfields or refined products like petrol, diesel and jet fuel.<\/strong> The largest, called VLCCs, carry around two million barrels. Here&rsquo;s how tankers work and the main types.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"chb-cta-bar\">\n<a class=\"chb-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/anfrage-fur-eine-frachtschiffreise\/\">Find my voyage &rarr;<\/a>\n<a class=\"chb-btn chb-btn--ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/shipping-lines-that-take-passengers\/\">Lines that take passengers<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"chb-keyfacts\">\n<p class=\"chb-keyfacts-title\">Key facts at a glance<\/p>\n<ul><li>Tankers carry <strong>crude oil<\/strong> oder <strong>refined products<\/strong> in many separate tanks.<\/li><li>Size classes run from <strong>Handysize to VLCC and ULCC<\/strong>.<\/li><li>A VLCC carries roughly <strong>2 million barrels<\/strong> of oil.<\/li><li>Modern tankers have <strong>double hulls<\/strong> to reduce spill risk.<\/li><li>Because of the hazardous cargo, tankers rarely carry passengers.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<nav class=\"chb-toc\" aria-label=\"Contents\">\n<p class=\"chb-toc-title\">In this guide<\/p>\n<ol><li><a href=\"#what-is-an-oil-tanker\">What is an oil tanker?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#tanker-size-classes\">Tanker size classes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#crude-product-and-chemical-tankers\">Crude, product and chemical tankers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#safety-and-double-hulls\">Safety and double hulls<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#can-you-travel-on-an-oil-tanker\">Can you travel on an oil tanker?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq\">H\u00e4ufig gestellte Fragen<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n\n<h2 id=\"what-is-an-oil-tanker\">What is an oil tanker?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>What is an oil tanker?<\/strong> It&rsquo;s a cargo ship whose hull is divided into large tanks for liquid oil, loaded and unloaded by powerful pumps through pipelines on deck. Unlike container ships, tankers have a low, flat deck covered in pipes, with the accommodation block at the stern.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"chb-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_330948268.jpeg\" alt=\"What is an oil tanker &ndash; tanker ship at sea\" title=\"What is an oil tanker &ndash; tanker ship at sea\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1111\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>Oil tankers carry crude oil and fuels in many separate tanks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"tanker-size-classes\">Tanker size classes<\/h2>\n<table><thead><tr><th>Class<\/th><th>Approx. deadweight<\/th><th>Typical use<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Handysize<\/td><td>10,000 &ndash; 50,000 t<\/td><td>Products, regional trades<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Panamax<\/td><td>60,000 &ndash; 80,000 t<\/td><td>Fits the old Panama Canal locks<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Aframax<\/td><td>80,000 &ndash; 120,000 t<\/td><td>Crude and products, medium routes<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Suezmax<\/td><td>120,000 &ndash; 200,000 t<\/td><td>Largest able to transit the Suez Canal loaded<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>VLCC<\/td><td>200,000 &ndash; 320,000 t<\/td><td>Long-haul crude, about 2 million barrels<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>ULCC<\/td><td>320,000 t +<\/td><td>The very largest crude carriers<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\n<h2 id=\"crude-product-and-chemical-tankers\">Crude, product and chemical tankers<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Crude tankers<\/strong> carry unrefined oil from producing regions to refineries.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Product tankers<\/strong> carry refined fuels; their tanks are coated to keep cargoes clean.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Chemical tankers<\/strong> have many small tanks, often stainless steel, for different liquids.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gas carriers<\/strong> are a separate family &ndash; see <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/what-is-an-lng-carrier\/\">what is an LNG carrier<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"chb-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/what-is-an-oil-tanker-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"What is an oil tanker infographic &ndash; tanker classes\" title=\"What is an oil tanker infographic &ndash; tanker classes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>Oil tankers at a glance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"safety-and-double-hulls\">Safety and double hulls<\/h2>\n<p>After major spills in the past, international rules required new oil tankers to have double hulls &ndash; an inner and outer skin with a gap between. Tankers also use inert gas to keep oxygen out of cargo tanks and reduce fire risk, and crews follow strict safety procedures in port.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"can-you-travel-on-an-oil-tanker\">Can you travel on an oil tanker?<\/h2>\n<p>Almost never. Because of the hazardous cargo and strict safety rules, tanker companies generally don&rsquo;t carry paying passengers. Freighter travellers sail on container and ro-ro ships instead &ndash; see <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/freight-ship-types-of-cargo-ships\/\">Arten von Frachtschiffen<\/a> und <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/shipping-lines-that-take-passengers\/\">shipping lines that take passengers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"chb-tip\"><strong>Tip:<\/strong> You can spot a tanker from a distance: low freeboard when loaded, a flat deck of pipes and a small tower near the bow for the cargo manifold crane.<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"chb-related\" aria-label=\"Verwandte Anleitungen\">\n<h2 id=\"related-guides\">Related cargo ship travel guides<\/h2>\n<div class=\"chb-grid\"><a class=\"chb-card\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/what-is-an-lng-carrier\/\"><span class=\"chb-card-kicker\">Ships<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-title\">What is an LNG carrier?<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-more\">Read guide &rarr;<\/span><\/a><a class=\"chb-card\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/what-is-a-bulk-carrier\/\"><span class=\"chb-card-kicker\">Ships<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-title\">Was ist ein Massengutfrachter?<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-more\">Read guide &rarr;<\/span><\/a><a class=\"chb-card\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/freight-ship-types-of-cargo-ships\/\"><span class=\"chb-card-kicker\">Ships<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-title\">Types of cargo ships<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-more\">Read guide &rarr;<\/span><\/a><a class=\"chb-card\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/biggest-ships-in-the-world\/\"><span class=\"chb-card-kicker\">Ships<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-title\">Biggest ships in the world<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-more\">Read guide &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<h2 id=\"faq\">H\u00e4ufig gestellte Fragen<\/h2>\n<div class=\"chb-faq\">\n<h3>What is an oil tanker?<\/h3>\n<p>A ship designed to carry oil in bulk, either crude oil or refined products, in separate tanks.<\/p><h3>How much oil does a VLCC carry?<\/h3>\n<p>Roughly two million barrels.<\/p><h3>Why do tankers have double hulls?<\/h3>\n<p>To reduce the risk of oil spills if the outer hull is damaged.<\/p><h3>What is the difference between crude and product tankers?<\/h3>\n<p>Crude tankers carry unrefined oil; product tankers carry refined fuels like diesel and jet fuel.<\/p><h3>Can passengers travel on oil tankers?<\/h3>\n<p>Almost never, because of the hazardous cargo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"chb-booking\">\n<p class=\"chb-booking-title\">Travel on a cargo ship instead<\/p>\n<p>Container and ro-ro ships welcome a handful of passengers. Find your voyage.<\/p>\n<a class=\"chb-btn chb-btn--big\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/anfrage-fur-eine-frachtschiffreise\/\">Find my voyage &rarr;<\/a>\n<p class=\"chb-booking-small\">Free, no-obligation quote &middot; Reply within 48 hours &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/frag-den-kapitan\/\">Fragen Sie den Kapit\u00e4n<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wie-zu-gehen-fur-fracht-kreuzfahrt\/\">How booking works<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What is an oil tanker?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"A ship designed to carry oil in bulk, either crude oil or refined products, in separate tanks.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"How much oil does a VLCC carry?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Roughly two million barrels.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Why do tankers have double hulls?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"To reduce the risk of oil spills if the outer hull is damaged.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What is the difference between crude and product tankers?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Crude tankers carry unrefined oil; 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By Steve Joury, cargo trip advisor at CargoHolidays An oil tanker is a ship designed to carry oil in bulk, either crude oil from oilfields or refined products like petrol, diesel and jet fuel. The largest, called VLCCs, carry around two million barrels. Here&rsquo;s how tankers work and the [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100004,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[118],"tags":[1790,1742,1789],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100054"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100054"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100055,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100054\/revisions\/100055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100054"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=100054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}