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Oil Tanker Accidents

An oil tanker is a ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. Crude oil tankers move unrefined crude oil from the point of extraction to the refinery, while product tankers move petrochemicals from refineries to points near consuming markets.

The Process

The process of loading and unloading oil to and from oil tankers is a detailed, complicated, and dangerous one. At each step of the way, there is potential for a mistake that can severely injure all crew members involved. The following are the main steps:

• Pre-transfer preparation: The chief officer details the specifics of how everything will be done, and who will be in charge of each step.  This is a critical step, as every detail is critical to ensuring everyone’s safety and that the transfer occurs smoothly.
• Loading the cargo: This usually involved pumping the product into various tanks on the ship.  The pressure needs to be monitored and handled very carefully, especially in the topping-off phase.
• Unloading the cargo: Crew members have to open and close the valves at the right time to direct the flow of the product to the right place.
• Tank cleaning: The tanks that hold the product must be thoroughly cleaned at particular times, such as when the type of product being stored is being changed, or when maintenance has to be performed.  During tank cleaning, workers are exposed to many chemicals, and have to work in extremely tight spaces. Protective clothing must be provided and used, and sometimes even airline respirators are required.

An overview of the process makes clear why oil tankers can be a very dangerous place to work.  Because the material being transported is so delicate and flammable, even the smallest act of negligence can have huge repercussions.  Explosions are the main problem, and are thought to cause 84 – 88% of accidents.

Contact an Attorney Today.

Those that work on oil tankers undertake risks on the job every day.  At every step of the way, crew members depend on each other and their superiors to provide proper instruction, training, and equipment to perform each task.  Failure to do so can result in serious injury and even death.  If you or a loved one were injured on the job, contact an attorney at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today to begin the process of recovery.
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