# Oil tanker

> A tanker built or adapted mainly to carry crude oil or petroleum products in bulk.

## Record

- Record type: Encyclopedia entry
- Canonical page: https://admiralsatlas.com/en/ship-types/oil-tanker/
- Last updated: 2026-09-22

## Article

An **oil tanker** carries crude oil or petroleum products in bulk in cargo tanks. Cargo is loaded and discharged through pumps and pipelines rather than handled as individual packages. Tank arrangement, equipment, and procedures vary with the petroleum product and trade.

Depending on its design and trade, an oil tanker may carry crude oil or refined products. Size terms such as [VLCC](/en/ship-types/vlcc/) describe particular tanker segments and should not be confused with the broader oil-tanker type.

[Further reading: IMO ship-type descriptions](https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/safety/pages/regulationsdefault.aspx).

## Related records

- [VLCC](/en/ship-types/vlcc/index.md)