According to Statista, the capacity of the world's oil tanker fleet increased significantly from 1980 to 2020 by more than 77%. Despite the growing contribution of renewables to global energy consumption, the global market remains highly dependent on oil. In 2020, the world's oil tanker fleet had a deadweight of approximately 601 million tons. The various types of oil tankers are categorized by fleet size: VLCC, Suezmax and Aframax. As of April 2020, the global fleet included 810 very large crude carriers. Since oil is the most widely used source of energy, the growing demand for energy is driving the drilling and transportation of oil.

Marine Transportation of Oil, Gasoline, and Refinery Derivatives

Marine transportation is a crucial component of the global oil and gas industry. It's responsible for moving crude oil from producing regions to refineries and transporting refined products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to markets around the world.

Types of Vessels Used for Oil Transportation:

• Tankers: These are specialized ships designed to carry large quantities of liquid cargo, such as crude oil and refined products. They come in various sizes, from small coastal tankers to massive supertankers capable of carrying hundreds of thousands of tons.

• VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers): These are the largest tankers, capable of transporting over 2 million barrels of crude oil. They are often used for long-distance voyages between producing regions and refining centers.

• Aframax Tankers: Slightly smaller than VLCCs, Aframax tankers are commonly used to transport crude oil and refined products between major oil-producing regions and refining centers.

• Suezmax Tankers: These tankers are sized to pass through the Suez Canal and are often used for transporting crude oil and refined products between the Middle East and Europe.

• Product Tankers: These tankers are designed to carry refined products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. They are typically smaller than crude oil tankers and may have specialized compartments for different products.

Container Shipping and Oil Products:

While container shipping is primarily used for transporting manufactured goods, it can also be used for certain oil products, especially when the quantities are relatively small or the products are packaged in containers. For example, some refined products like lubricants or specialty chemicals might be shipped in containers.