Scores are relative 0–100 marks within this atlas. Use them to browse, not as an engineering spec.
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Quick answers
Which local authority or corridor rules matter for this type?
Start with the local lens: type approval, operator licences and the hubs named on this page — not a single global checklist.
Is this a buying guide?
No. Tool-Lifes /vehicles is an educational atlas. It explains history, systems and culture without affiliate rankings.
Are the scores official?
No. The six scores are relative editorial 0–100 marks across the 48 types on this site.
Where do the photos come from?
Lead images resolve from Wikimedia Commons via Wikipedia titles on the English masters, with licences recorded on the credits page.
Why metric units?
Metric is the default. Regional notes (US customary, local brand culture) appear in culture and market chapters.
How is this different from a wiki article?
Each type gets seven fixed-depth chapters, comparable scores and cross-type labs — structured for browsing, not a single freeform page.
Every Oil tanker is a negotiated stack of structure, energy conversion, control and human interfaces under weather and regulation.
The systems, meters and hotspots below are type-level engineering — manufacturers vary; load paths and failure modes do not.
Systems
Cargo tank segregation
Coated or stainless tanks hold crude or product grades separately; inert gas blankets limit explosive atmospheres.
Cargo pumps & lines
Centrifugal pumps move oil through manifolds to shore arms; COW systems wash residual sludge.
Inert gas plant
Boiler flue or dedicated generators feed IG to keep tank oxygen below ignition thresholds.
Double-hull structure
MARPOL double hulls separate cargo from sea contact, reducing spill volume in low-energy collisions.
Bridge & cargo control
Load computers monitor draft, stress, and ullage; ullage tapes and radar gauges verify levels.
Mooring & spill response
High-capacity winches hold berth; boom and skimmer gear staged for port requirements.
Relative meters
Hotspots
IG system failure
Loss of inert gas during discharge raises explosion risk in partially filled tanks.
Pump seal leaks
Hot cargo through worn seals creates fire pools in pump rooms.
Static on loading
High flow rates demand grounding and velocity limits to prevent spark ignition.
Hull coating breakdown
Corrosion under insulation accelerates in sour crude service.
Overfill alarms
Disabled high-level sensors risk shore overflow and pollution fines.
Materials
AH36 / duplex steel
Tank structure resists corrosive cargoes when paired with proper coatings.
Epoxy tank coatings
Barrier coats protect steel from product wash and microbial attack.
Crude oil (cargo)
Cargo itself is energy-dense; heating coils maintain pumpable viscosity in cold grades.
Inert gas (N2/CO2 mix)
Low-oxygen blanket displaces hydrocarbon vapor in ullage space.
Keep exploring
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Overall 49