Tankers transport crude oil, which is the world’s primary energy source, refined petroleum products like gasoline, and other liquid cargoes such as chemical products. Tankers, of course, are built to transport oil, but can also serve as temporary offshore oil storage terminals, because the tanker is composed of multiple tanks.
Speaking of tankers, let’s start with the ones that carry oil. Among the larger ones are those that transport crude oil, an energy resource that underpins the global economy and our everyday lives. “Product tankers” also play an essential role, carrying petroleum products such as gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, and diesel oil, and “chemical tankers” transport liquid chemical products including methanol, benzene, toluene, and alcohol.
Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) are employed mainly for long-distance transport of Liquid Petroleum Gases (LPGs). As the boiling points of liquefied propane and liquefied butane are minus 42.2°C and minus 0.5°C respectively, the cargo tanks are made of a special steel that can withstand these ultra-low temperatures and the vessels feature a re-liquefaction system to keep the cargo temperature below the boiling point.
Petroleum products support our daily lives, and crude oil, the raw material for these products, is a critical energy source. Tankers have become larger to increase the efficiency of crude oil transport, and the first very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) made its debut in the 1960s. Other sizes of tankers are also available to meet global demand, contributing to a stable supply.