USCG National Tankerman & STCW V/1 – 1&2 Tanker Cargo Endorsements
Tankerman is a qualified rating endorsement on a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). A Tankerman is a standalone credential that may or may not be STCW endorsed. Mariners may add a Tankerman endorsement to any other Deck or Engineering credential such as, Able Seaman, QMED, and Deck or Engineering Officer License. A Tankerman endorsements will be issued as meeting either DL – Dangerous Liquid Cargoes and/or LG – Liquid Gas Cargoes or both. Tankerman endorsements are available at the following levels:
National Endorsements and STCW Equivalents
National Endorsement |
STCW Endorsement |
Limitations/Comments |
Tankerman-Assistant DL |
Basic Oil and Chemical Tanker Operations |
STCW endorsement is a single endorsement valid for service on both oil tankers and chemical tankers. |
Tankerman-Assistant LG |
Basic Liquefied Gas Tanker Operations |
|
Tankerman-PIC DL |
Advanced Oil Tanker Operations or Advanced Chemical Tanker Operations |
Mariners should have the endorsement appropriate to the vessel’s cargo. |
Tankerman-PIC LG |
Advanced Liquefied Gas Tanker Operations |
--- |
Tankerman-PIC (Barge) DL |
Advanced Oil Tanker Operations or Advanced Chemical Tanker Operations |
Mariners should have the endorsement appropriate to the vessel’s cargo. STCW endorsement will have a limitation to non-self propelled vessels. |
Tankerman-PIC (Barge) LG |
Advanced Liquefied Gas Tanker Operations |
STCW endorsement will have a limitation to non-self propelled vessels. |
Tankerman-Engineer DL |
Advanced Oil Tanker Operations or Advanced Chemical Tanker Operations |
Mariners should have the endorsement appropriate to the vessel’s cargo. STCW endorsement will have a limitation to maintenance and repair of cargo equipment. |
Tankerman-Engineer LG |
Advanced Liquefied Gas Tanker Operations |
STCW endorsement will have a limitation to maintenance and repair of cargo equipment. |
Tankship Familiarization topics must consist of the topics identified in Table 1
Tankerman-PIC, tankerman-PIC (barge), and tankerman-engineer endorsements must consist of the topics identified in Table 2
Firefighting topics identified in Table 3.
Table 1 Tankship familiarization topics
Tankship familiarization topics |
1 |
2 |
Basic knowledge of tankers: |
|
|
types of oil and chemical vessels or liquefied gas tanker vessels |
X |
X |
general arrangement and construction |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of cargo operations: |
|
|
piping systems and valves |
X |
X |
cargo pumps and cargo handling equipment |
X |
X |
loading and unloading and care in transit |
X |
X |
tank cleaning, purging, gas-freeing and inerting |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of the physical properties of oil and chemicals: |
|
|
pressure and temperature, including vapor pressure/temperature relationship |
X |
|
types of electrostatic charge generation |
X |
|
chemical symbols |
X |
|
Basic knowledge of the physical properties of liquefied gases, including: |
|
|
properties and characteristics |
X |
|
pressure and temperature, including vapor pressure/temperature relationship |
X |
|
types of electrostatic charge generation |
X |
|
chemical symbols |
X |
|
Knowledge and understanding of tanker safety culture and safety management |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of the hazards associated with tanker operations, including: |
|
|
health hazards |
X |
X |
environmental hazards |
X |
X |
reactivity hazards |
X |
X |
corrosion hazards |
X |
X |
explosion and flammability hazards |
X |
X |
sources of ignition |
X |
X |
electrostatic hazards |
X |
X |
toxicity hazards |
X |
X |
vapor leaks and clouds |
X |
X |
extremely low temperatures |
X |
|
pressure hazards |
X |
|
Basic knowledge of hazard controls: |
|
|
inerting, water padding, drying agents and monitoring techniques |
X |
X |
anti-static measures |
X |
X |
ventilation |
X |
X |
segregation |
X |
X |
cargo inhibition |
X |
X |
importance of cargo compatibility |
X |
X |
atmospheric control |
X |
X |
gas testing |
X |
X |
Understanding of information on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) |
X |
X |
Function and proper use of gas-measuring instruments and similar equipment |
X |
X |
Proper use of safety equipment and protective devices, including: |
|
|
breathing apparatus and tank-evacuating equipment |
X |
X |
protective clothing and equipment |
X |
X |
resuscitators |
X |
X |
rescue and escape equipment |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of safe working practices and procedures in accordance with legislation and industry guidelines and personal shipboard safety relevant to oil and chemical tankers, including: |
|
|
precautions to be taken when entering enclosed spaces |
X |
X |
precautions to be taken before and during repair and maintenance work |
X |
X |
safety measures for hot and cold work |
X |
X |
electrical safety |
X |
X |
ship/shore safety checklist |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of first aid with reference to a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of emergency procedures, including emergency shutdown |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of the effects of oil and chemical pollution on human and marine life |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of shipboard procedures to prevent pollution |
X |
X |
Basic knowledge of measures to be taken in the event of spillage, including the need to: |
|
|
report relevant information to the responsible persons |
X |
X |
assist in implementing shipboard spill-containment procedures |
X |
X |
prevent brittle fracture |
X |
Column 1—Tankship familiarization (dangerous liquids).
Column 2—Tankship familiarization (liquefied gases).
Table 2 Tankship and tank barge course topics
Tankship and tank barge course topics |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
General characteristics, compatibility, reaction, firefighting procedures, and safety precautions for the cargoes of: |
||||
Bulk liquids defined as Dangerous Liquids in 46 CFR Part 13 |
X |
X |
||
Bulk liquefied gases & their vapors defined as Liquefied Gases in 46 CFR Part 13 |
X |
X |
||
Knowledge and understanding of the physical and chemical properties of oil and chemical cargoes |
X |
|||
Physical phenomena of liquefied gas, including: |
||||
Basic concept |
X |
X |
||
Compression and expansion |
X |
X |
||
Mechanism of heat transfer |
X |
X |
||
Potential hazards of liquefied gas, including: |
||||
Chemical and physical properties |
X |
X |
||
Combustion characteristics |
X |
X |
||
Results of gas release to the atmosphere |
X |
X |
||
Health hazards (skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion) |
X |
X |
||
Control of flammability range with inert gas |
X |
X |
||
Thermal stress in structure and piping of vessel |
X |
X |
||
Cargo systems, including: |
||||
Principles of containment systems |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Construction, materials, coating, & insulation of cargo tanks |
X |
X |
||
General arrangement of cargo tanks |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Venting and vapor-control systems |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Cargo-handling systems, including: |
||||
Piping systems, valves, pumps, and expansion systems |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Operating characteristics |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Instrumentation systems, including: |
||||
Cargo-level indicators |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Gas-detecting systems |
X |
X |
X |
|
Temperature-monitoring systems, cargo |
X |
X |
X |
|
Temperature-monitoring systems, hull |
X |
X |
||
Automatic-shutdown systems |
X |
X |
X |
|
Auxiliary systems, including: |
||||
Ventilation, inerting |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Valves, including: |
||||
Quick-closing |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Remote-control |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Pneumatic |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Excess-flow |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Safety-relief |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Pressure-vacuum |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Heating-systems: cofferdams & ballast tanks |
X |
X |
||
Operations connected with the loading and discharging of cargo, including: |
||||
Lining up the cargo and vapor-control systems |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Pre-transfer inspections and completion of the Declaration of Inspection |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Hooking up of cargo hose, loading arms, and grounding-strap |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Starting of liquid flow |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Calculation of loading rates |
X |
X |
||
Discussion of loading |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Ballasting and deballasting |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Topping off of the cargo tanks |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Discussion of discharging |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Stripping of the cargo tanks |
X |
X |
||
Monitoring of transfers |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Gauging of cargo tanks |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Disconnecting of cargo hoses or loading arms |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Cargo-tank-cleaning procedures and precautions |
X |
X |
||
Slop arrangements |
X |
|||
Ship-to-ship transfers |
X |
|||
Operating procedures and sequence for: |
||||
Inerting of cargo tanks and void spaces |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Cooldown and warmup of cargo tanks |
X |
X |
||
Gas-freeing |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Loaded or ballasted voyages |
X |
X |
||
Testing of cargo-tank atmospheres for oxygen & cargo vapor |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Stability and stress considerations connected with loading and discharging of cargo |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Loadline, draft, and trim |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Disposal of boil-off, including: |
||||
System design |
X |
X |
||
Safety features |
X |
X |
||
Stability-letter requirements |
X |
X |
||
Emergency procedures, including notice to appropriate authorities, for: |
||||
Fire |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Collision |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Grounding |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Equipment failure |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Leaks and spills |
X |
X |
X |
|
Structural failure |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Emergency discharge of cargo |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Entering cargo tanks |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Emergency shutdown of cargo-handling |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Emergency systems for closing cargo tanks |
X |
X |
||
Rules & regulations (international and Federal, for all tank vessels) on conducting operations and preventing pollution |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Pollution prevention, including: |
||||
Procedures to prevent air and water pollution |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Measures to take in event of spillage |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Danger from drift of vapor cloud |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Environmental protection equipment, including oil discharge monitoring equipment |
X |
|||
Terminology for tankships carrying oil and chemicals |
X |
|||
Terminology for tank barges carrying oil and chemicals |
X |
|||
Terminology for tankships carrying liquefied gases |
X |
|||
Terminology for tank barges carrying liquefied gases |
X |
|||
Principles & procedures of crude-oil-washing (COW) systems, including: |
||||
Purpose |
X |
|||
Equipment and design |
X |
|||
Operations |
X |
|||
Safety precautions |
X |
|||
Maintenance of plant and equipment |
X |
|||
Principles & procedures of the inert-gas systems (IGSs), including: |
||||
Purpose |
X |
X |
||
Equipment and design |
X |
X |
||
Operations |
X |
X |
||
Safety precautions |
X |
X |
||
Maintenance of plant and equipment |
X |
X |
||
Principles & procedures of vapor-control systems, including: |
||||
Purpose |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Principles |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Coast Guard regulations |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Hazards |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Active system components |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Passive system components |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Operating procedures, including: |
||||
Testing and inspection requirements |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Pre-transfer procedures |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Connecting sequence |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Start-up sequence |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Normal operations |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Loading and unloading plans |
X |
|||
Emergency procedures |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Cargo-hazard-information systems |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Safe entry into confined spaces, including: |
||||
Testing tank atmospheres for oxygen & hydrocarbon vapors |
X |
X |
||
Definition and hazards of confined spaces |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Cargo tanks and pumprooms |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Evaluation and assessment of risks and hazards |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Safety precautions and procedures |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Enclosed space rescue |
X |
|||
Personnel protective equipment (PPE) and clothing |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Maintenance of PPE |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Dangers of skin contact |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Inhalation of vapors |
X |
X |
||
Electricity and static electricity—hazards and precautions |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Emergency procedures |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Federal regulations, national standards & industry guidelines |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Inspections by marine chemists & competent persons, including hot-work permits & procedures |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Vessel response plans: |
||||
Purpose, content, and location of information |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Procedures for notice and mitigation of spills |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Geographic-specific appendices |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Vessel-specific appendices |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Emergency-action checklist |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Column 1—Tankship: Dangerous Liquids.
Column 2—Tank Barge: Dangerous Liquids.
Column 3—Tankship: Liquefied Gases.
Column 4—Tank Barge: Liquefied Gases.
Table 3 Firefighting course topics
Firefighting course topics |
1 |
2 |
Elements of fire (Fire triangle): |
||
Fuel |
X |
X |
Source of ignition |
X |
X |
Oxygen |
X |
X |
Ignition sources (general): |
||
Chemical |
X |
|
Biological |
X |
|
Physical |
X |
|
Ignition sources applicable to barges |
X |
|
Definitions of flammability and combustibility: |
|
|
Flammability |
X |
X |
Ignition point |
X |
X |
Burning temperature |
X |
X |
Burning speed |
X |
|
Thermal value |
X |
|
Lower flammable limit |
X |
X |
Upper flammable limit |
X |
X |
Flammable range |
X |
X |
Inerting |
X |
|
Static electricity |
X |
X |
Flash point |
X |
X |
Auto-ignition |
X |
X |
Spread of fire: |
||
By radiation |
X |
X |
By convection |
X |
X |
By conduction |
X |
X |
Reactivity |
X |
X |
Fire classifications and applicable extinguishing agents |
X |
X |
Main causes of fires: |
||
Oil leakage |
X |
X |
Smoking |
X |
X |
Overheating pumps |
X |
X |
Galley appliances |
X |
|
Spontaneous ignition |
X |
X |
Hot work |
X |
X |
Electrical apparatus |
X |
|
Reaction, self-heating, and auto-ignition |
X |
|
Fire prevention: |
||
General |
X |
X |
Fire hazards of DL and LG |
X |
X |
Fire detection: |
||
Fire- and smoke-detection systems |
X |
|
Automatic fire alarms |
X |
|
Firefighting equipment: |
||
Fire mains, hydrants |
X |
|
International shore-connection |
X |
|
Smothering-installations, carbon dioxide (CO2), foam |
X |
|
Pressure-water spray system in special-category spaces |
X |
|
Automatic sprinkler system |
X |
|
Emergency fire pump, emergency generator |
X |
|
Chemical-powder applicants |
X |
|
General outline of required and mobile apparatus |
X |
|
Fireman's outfit, personal equipment |
X |
|
Breathing apparatus |
X |
|
Resuscitation apparatus |
X |
|
Smoke helmet or mask |
X |
|
F Sea Service Requirements
Read MoreRenewal of tankerman endorsement. An applicant seeking to renew a tankerman endorsement or an STCW endorsement valid for service on tank vessels must meet the requirements, for renewing an MMC and meet the following additional requirements: For endorsements as tankerman-PIC, advanced oil and chemical tanker cargo operation; and advanced liquefied gas tanker cargo operations, present evidence of—
For endorsements as tankerman-assistant, basic oil and chemical tanker cargo operation; and basic liquefied gas tanker cargo operations, present evidence of—
For endorsements as tankerman-PIC (Barge), present evidence of—
For endorsements as tankerman-engineer, present evidence of—
Expiration of endorsement. An endorsement as tankerman is valid for the duration of the merchant mariner credential on which the endorsement appears. Re-issuance of expired tankerman endorsements. Whenever an applicant applies for re-issuance of an endorsement as any tankerman rating more than 12 months after expiration of the previous endorsement, the applicant must meet the requirements for an original endorsement. |