What are the characteristics of a tanker crew?
A typical VLCC crew, sailing on a tanker in international service, consists of 21-25 personnel. They are normally divided into three departments: deck, engine, and stewards. The deck department is responsible for the safe navigation, cargo handling, in-port operations and exterior maintenance of the vessel. The engine department focuses on machinery operation and upkeep, fuel and lube processing. The stewards department is responsible for feeding, sanitation, interior house keeping and provision/store inventories. International tanker operators frequently procure crews and traditional seagoing nations and more recently, from less traditional nations (Panama, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Eastern Europe, Russia etc). They seek a combination of quality and efficiency (cost) in their crewing demands. Seamen are licensed or documented by their flag, or home country, although generally they all meet some level of international basic standards for training, certification, experience and backg
