Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Tankerman

🎯 Role Definition

A Tankerman is a certified maritime professional who conducts, supervises, and documents the transfer, storage, and handling of liquid cargoes (including oil, petroleum products, and other hazardous liquids) between vessels, barges, and shore facilities. The Tankerman is responsible for safety, environmental compliance, cargo custody transfer accuracy, equipment operation (pumps, hoses, manifolds), and communication with pilots, terminal operators, and vessel masters. This role requires USCG endorsements (Tankerman-PIC, Tankerman-F, or Tankerman-A as applicable), strong situational awareness, and demonstrated experience with mooring, cargo transfer procedures, and emergency response protocols.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Deckhand with tanker/barge transfer exposure and endorsement training
Ordinary Seaman (OS) who completed safety and transfer familiarization
Oiler or AB (Able Seaman) with tanker cargo handling experience

Advancement To:

Lead Tankerman / Senior Tankerman (PIC oversight for multi-vessel operations)
Marine Terminal Operations Supervisor or Loading Master
Mate / Chief Mate on tank barges or coastal tank vessels
Marine Safety Officer or Regulatory Compliance Specialist within shipping/terminals

Lateral Moves:

Port Operations Coordinator
HAZMAT / Environmental Response Technician
Vessel Maintenance Supervisor (pumps, hoses, and cargo systems)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Serve as the Person-in-Charge (PIC) / Tankerman-PIC during liquid cargo transfer operations, assuming full responsibility for safe and compliant transfer procedures between barge/vessel and shore or another vessel.
Plan, coordinate, and execute cargo transfer work plans, including pre-transfer meetings, line-up verification, pump and manifold settings, and hose assembly inspections to ensure safe operations.
Verify and sign cargo transfer documentation, bills of lading, draft surveys, shore tank receipts, and custody transfer paperwork to maintain accurate cargo accounting and legal compliance.
Perform line-up checks and oversee the correct configuration of pipelines, manifolds, hoses, valves, and pumps; confirm all connections are secure and tagged prior to transferring liquids.
Monitor cargo transfer rates, tank levels, pressures, and alarms continuously; take immediate corrective action and stop transfer if unsafe conditions or leaks are detected.
Conduct pre-shift and pre-transfer safety inspections, including hose integrity, flange/gasket condition, grounding/ bonding, emergency stop systems, and spill containment equipment readiness.
Execute emergency response procedures for spills, fires, leaks, or overfills—operate emergency shutdown systems, deploy containment booms, and coordinate with vessel and terminal response teams.
Maintain continuous and clear radio and visual communication with vessel masters, pilots, shore supervisors, and tugs using VHF, hand signals, and documented watch logs.
Perform tank sampling and cargo testing (API gravity, temperature, contamination checks) and ensure correct sampling procedures and chain-of-custody documentation are followed.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (USCG, EPA, OSHA, MARPOL where applicable) as well as company policies for hazardous liquids handling and environmental protection.
Supervise and direct mooring and unmooring operations during cargo operations; ensure lines, winches, and mooring hardware are used safely and according to procedure.
Inspect, maintain, and document condition of cargo transfer equipment—hoses, gaskets, couplings, flanges, strainers, and portable pumps—and coordinate repairs or replacements with maintenance teams.
Perform watchstanding duties on tank barges or tank vessels during cargo and ballast transfer, maintaining accurate logs, sounding tanks, and reporting abnormalities to the master.
Coordinate and document ballast operations to maintain vessel stability and trim during and after cargo operations in accordance with stability plans and company procedures.
Train, mentor, and supervise junior deck crew or relief tankermen on safe transfer practices, PPE use, cargo documentation, and emergency drills to maintain competency across the team.
Implement and enforce Hot Work, Permit-to-Work, Lockout-Tagout (LOTO), and confined space entry procedures when personnel work on cargo system components, including supervising confined-space entry when necessary.
Perform custody transfer reconciliations, reconcile meter readings and shore receipts, and report discrepancies immediately to operations and commercial teams for timely resolution.
Maintain accurate maintenance and inspection records for cargo transfer equipment, including test certificates, pressure test records, and USCG-required paperwork.
Conduct pre-transfer HAZID/HAZOP briefings and ensure all parties understand job hazards, PPE requirements, and emergency communication channels before operations begin.
Ensure compliance with security protocols (TWIC, restricted areas, visitor control) and participate in vessel/terminal security drills and reporting requirements.
Apply spill prevention techniques and maintain spill prevention kits, absorbents, and containment booms onboard and on deck ready for immediate deployment.
Collaborate with terminal operators, stevedores, and commercial teams to schedule cargo operations, optimize berth time, and minimize demurrage and detention.
Maintain situational awareness of weather, tide, and current conditions that could impact safe transfer or mooring and take proactive measures to secure operations.
Keep up-to-date with endorsements, medical clearances, and required training records; schedule and complete refresher training for hazardous materials handling and emergency response.
Participate in internal and external audits, inspections, and incident investigations; produce corrective action plans and implement preventive measures to reduce recurrence.

Secondary Functions

Conduct routine preventive maintenance and minor repairs on cargo handling components, pumps, and deck fittings to ensure readiness.
Assist vessel officers and engineering staff with bilge and ballast system checks, including confirming valve line-ups after cargo operations.
Support environmental reporting by preparing incident reports, discharge logs, and waste manifests as required by company policy and regulators.
Participate in company safety committees and continuous improvement projects to refine cargo transfer SOPs and training curricula.
Provide input to purchasing for spare parts and consumables (gaskets, hose assemblies, seals) based on inventory usage and inspection findings.
Support terminal and marine planners by providing accurate time-on-job estimates and cargo transfer durations for scheduling optimization.
Act as a subject-matter expert for customer/site visits, explaining transfer procedures, safety measures, and compliance documentation to stakeholders.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Valid USCG Tankerman-PIC, Tankerman-F, Tankerman-A endorsement(s) or equivalent national certifications.
Proficient in cargo system line-ups, pump operation, hose and manifold configuration, meter verification, and custody transfer documentation.
Strong knowledge of marine transfer procedures for petroleum products, chemical cargoes, and other hazardous liquids, including sampling and testing techniques.
Emergency response and spill containment skills, including use of booms, absorbents, emergency shutoffs, and incident command communication.
Competence in ballast management, tank sounding, draft surveys, and stability considerations during loading and unloading operations.
Practical experience with mooring operations, winch handling, synthetic/steel line management, and quick-release devices.
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks: USCG regulations, MARPOL, OSHA HAZWOPER basics, EPA spill reporting, and local port authority requirements.
Tank and hose pressure testing, flange torqueing, gasket inspection, and basic mechanical troubleshooting for cargo system components.
Proficient in VHF radio communication, standardized marine phraseology, and tagging/lockout procedures.
Ability to perform and document meter calibration checks, reconcile meter/mass balances, and resolve custody transfer variances.
Knowledge of confined space entry procedures and ability to supervise entries, including use of gas detectors and ventilation equipment.
Experience using common maritime software or digital logbooks for transfer records, safety checklists, and inventory tracking.

Soft Skills

Strong situational awareness and decision-making under pressure; able to stop operations when safety is compromised.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for interfacing with vessel masters, terminal operators, and regulatory inspectors.
Leadership and team supervision skills; ability to train and mentor less experienced crew members.
Attention to detail for accurate paperwork, sampling protocols, and compliance documentation.
Problem solving and troubleshooting orientation with a proactive approach to preventing incidents.
Reliability and punctuality to meet scheduled transfers and minimize operational delays.
Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills to coordinate with multiple stakeholders in high-stakes environments.
Adaptability to operate in varied marine environments, shift patterns, and weather conditions.
Strong organizational skills for maintaining maintenance logs, certification records, and inventory lists.
Customer-focused mindset, maintaining professional representation of company safety and service standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; demonstrated maritime experience and required endorsements.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or certificate in Maritime Technology, Marine Transportation, Marine Safety, or equivalent vocational training.
Additional courses in HAZWOPER, confined space, and marine cargo operations.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Maritime Transportation
Marine Engineering / Technology
Occupational Safety & Environmental Health
Petroleum or Chemical Operations
Logistics and Supply Chain

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years of hands-on experience on tank barges, tank vessels, or at marine terminals performing liquid cargo transfer operations.

Preferred: 4+ years of dedicated tankerman duties with documented USCG endorsements, demonstrated experience as PIC on complex transfers, ballast and stability management experience, and prior work with multiple product types (crude, refined products, chemicals).