Oil Tanker Safety Measures for Operating an Oil Tanker

There are hundreds of standards and protocols to which oil tanker operators and crew are required to adhere in order to stay compliant with state, federal and international guidelines. Some of the most common and important safety standards pertain to onboard smoking, the use of electrical appliances and facilitating visitors.

Take a look at the oil tanker safety measures below to ensure a safe working atmosphere aboard an oil tanker.

Oil Tanker Safety Measures for Smoking Aboard Oil Tankers

Because minimizing fire hazards is a top priority on oil tankers, it’s important to ensure the crew strictly adheres to smoking regulations. Here are a few tips for ensuring your vessel operation meets safety standard guidelines:

• Only permit smoking in authorized, designated smoking areas.
• Post smoking-area signage in the Officer Smoking Room, Crew Smoking Room and Cargo Control Room.
• Supply each smoking area with safety matches or fixed electrical lighters, as well as self-extinguishing ash trays.
• Install a gas detection system and alarm in each of the smoking areas.
• Instruct crew to report any smoking violations to the Master.
• Do not permit any matches or lighters outside of the smoking areas.
• Completely ban smoking – even in authorized areas – during dangerous, gas-related operations.

Using Electrical Appliances on a Tanker

The fire hazard that electrical appliances pose requires strict prohibition on oil tankers. One electrical malfunction on a crew member’s or visitor’s device could cause a deadly chain reaction.

First, note that all hand-held portable transceivers must be the intrinsically safe type. In fact, unless the equipment or tool was designed with intrinsic safety methods, its use is strictly prohibited on cargo tank decks and any areas where flammable gas is present. Prohibited equipment in high-risk areas includes:

• radios;
• calculators;
• cell phones; and
• tape recorders.

Perform regular safety debriefings and safety checks to ensure all crew are compliant with the rules for using electrical appliances and devices. Ensure they understand that other than cameras, entertainment systems or electric razors, they are not permitted to use electrical appliances in their cabins.

Visitor Safety: Another Important Oil Tanker Safety Measure

Using proper procedures for facilitating visitors aboard oil tankers is vital to ensuring the safety of the vessel. Make sure that visitors are handled in accordance with your Ship Security Plan.

Here are a few tips to ensure guests’ visits to the tanker go off without a hitch:

• Check visitors' photo IDs to ensure they’re authorized to board.
• Explain the basic safety rules to visitors while aboard the vessel, including the rules regarding smoking and the use of electrical equipment.
• Announce and enforce the rule that visitors are to be escorted by vessel personnel at all times.

Meeting Standard Logging Requirements

To ensure your crew carries out all safety protocols, adhere to the U.S. Coast Guard's logging requirements. To determine what logging requirements pertain to your specific type of vessel, download My Vessel Logs' FREE Logbook Quick Reference Guide.