Petroleum tanker

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Petroleum tankers or oil tankers are ships of varying sizes designed for the bulk carriage of petroleum and various refined spirits. The largest are up to 650,000 tons.

The current custom is for petroleum to be transported to near its point of use where it is refined as required.

From time to time there have been accidents that have led to serious and catastrophic pollution. Another concern has been the pollution caused by careless cleaning of ships' tanks. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, fewer than 67 barrels (about 2,800 gallons) were spilled out of more than 4.2 billion barrels of petroleum delivered by tankers to the U.S. in 2005. The total volume of petroleum spilled from tankers annually in the U.S. has averaged fewer than 4,000 barrels annually from 1996-2005, including no marine incidents during 2005's record hurricane season. In fact, far more oil enters the oceans from natural sources and other incidents than from tanker spills.

During World War II, the transport of petroleum and its products was a critical strategic activity since shortages had a paralysing impact on mechanised nations. The destruction and defense of these ships was therefore of prime concern.