A category of ships designed with a single deck hull which includes an arrangement of integral or independent tanks specifically for the bulk carriage of cargo in liquid form. Cargo handling to and from the tanks is by way of shore-and/or ship-based pumping and piping equipment.

Tanker types include:

>>  Oil tanker

>>  Chemical tanker

>>  Oil/Chemical tanker

>>  Liquefied gas tanker (for LPG and/or LNG)- mainly independent tanks

>>  Liquefied gas tanker/chemical tanker

>>  Other tanker eg. Asphalt tanker, fruit-juice tanker (with refrigerated holds), wine  

       tanker, water tanker.

Various features may include:

- a double bottom structure, double skin sides and double deck.

- a particular tank structure/ tank coating, or other structural features, which reflect the

   nature and hazard of the cargo carried.

- the additional carriage of liquid cargo in independent tanks situated on the weather

  deck.

- an additional forward hold for the carriage of dry cargo.