1. Transportation of crude oil: Oil tankers are primarily used to transport crude oil from oil fields to refineries.
2. Transportation of refined petroleum products: Oil tankers are also used to transport refined petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, from refineries to distribution terminals.
3. Storage of oil and petroleum products: Oil tankers can be used as floating storage facilities for oil and petroleum products. This is particularly useful in regions where there is limited onshore storage capacity.
4. Bunkering: Oil tankers can be used to provide fuel to other vessels, such as cargo ships, cruise ships, and naval vessels.
5. Offshore loading and unloading: Oil tankers can be equipped with offshore loading and unloading systems, allowing them to transfer oil and petroleum products to and from offshore platforms and subsea pipelines.
6. Emergency response: Oil tankers can be used to respond to oil spills and other marine emergencies. They can be equipped with oil spill response equipment, such as skimmers, booms, and dispersants.
7. Military purposes: Oil tankers can be used for military purposes, such as transporting fuel for naval fleets and providing support to military operations.
8. Research and development: Oil tankers can be used for research and development purposes, such as testing new technologies and conducting environmental studies.
9. Education and training: Oil tankers can be used for education and training purposes, such as providing hands-on experience for maritime students and professionals.
10. Recycling and disposal: Oil tankers can be recycled or disposed of at the end of their operational life, in accordance with environmental regulations.
