{"id":2,"date":"2025-02-04T20:06:30","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T20:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearseas.org\/oil-tankers-new\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2025-09-04T19:47:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T19:47:26","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/clearseas.org\/oil-tankers\/","title":{"rendered":"Oil Tankers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Oil Tankers In Canadian Waters<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

#tankers101<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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About this microsite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The expansion of oil handling facilities and an additional pipeline in Western Canada has increased the number of oil tankers and also the proportion of oil transiting through the Pacific region compared to other Canadian waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This development, along with the continued use of tankers to transport fossil fuels around the world, has raised questions about the opportunities and risks for coastal and Indigenous communities, the environment, and the economy from oil transported by ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This site was created by Clear Seas, a Canadian not-for-profit organization that provides independent fact-based information to enable governments, industry, and the public to make informed decisions on marine shipping issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The site\u2019s purpose is to share fact-based information about oil tankers in Canadian waters and to encourage informed conversations about marine shipping issues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Oil Tankers 101<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since the late 19th century, oil tankers have been used to transport large amounts of oil across oceans and through waterways. In 2023, oil tankers accounted for about 29% of global seaborne trade by deadweight tonnes (DWT), with approximately 1.95 billion metric tonnes of crude oil transported by sea.1<\/a>,2<\/a><\/sup> This is a reduction from 1980, when tankers made up 50% of the world\u2019s shipping fleet by DWT capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tanker Sizes and Capacities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Panamax<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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230m | Max DWT 80,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up to 500,000 barrels of crude oil3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Aframax<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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245m | Max DWT 120,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up to 750,000 barrels of crude oil<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Suezmax<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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285m | Max DWT 200,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up to 1 million barrels of crude oil<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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330m | Max DWT 320,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up to 2.2 million barrels of crude oil<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ultra Large Crude Carrier (ULCC)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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415m | Max DWT 550,0004<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up to 3.7 million barrels of crude oil<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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An oil tanker’s capacity is measured based on its size in deadweight tonnes (DWT), which is the total weight a ship can safely carry (including the cargo, fuel, crew, provisions, etc.) not including the weight of the ship itself. Tanker capacities can range from a few thousand DWT to 550,000 DWT.5<\/a><\/sup> Aframax and Suezmax tankers regularly call in Canadian waters. VLCC are rare and ULCC are unknown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How to Spot a Tanker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tankers are easily identifiable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Oil<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Oil Tanker<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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