Tankerman Jobs on Inland Tank Barges
A tankerman runs the cargo transfer on a tank barge: hoses on, valves lined up, gauges watched, nothing in the river. It's the fastest raise on the liquid side of the deck. Tankerman PIC pay runs $310–$390 a day, roughly double a starting deckhand, and the endorsement usually comes 12–18 months in for a hand who takes it seriously.
From Capt. Alan, Master of Towing, 18 years on the river.
What does a tankerman PIC do?
PIC stands for person in charge, and on the river that's what everybody calls the tankerman. When the boat lands a barge at a dock to load or discharge, you're the one responsible for the transfer. You connect the hoses, line up the valves, keep an eye on the gauges and the tank levels, and talk with the dock the whole time. If something leaks, it's on you to catch it and shut it down.
Between transfers you're still a working hand. You'll help with tow work and keep the barges up like the rest of the deck crew. The difference is that the boat can't make money at the dock without you.
What do you need to become a tankerman?
The job requires a Merchant Mariner Credential with a Tank Barge-PIC endorsement, issued by the Coast Guard. The federal minimum, under 46 CFR 13.301–13.303, looks like this:
- Get your MMC
No exam at entry level. The MMC guide walks through the forms, the physical, the drug test, and the fees. File it during your first months aboard so it's ready when you need it.
- Two approved courses
Tank barge cargo and firefighting.
- Sea time and supervised transfers
At least 60 days of tank-vessel service and at least 10 supervised transfers. That's the floor. Most companies want to see 10 to 20 transfers, and some as many as 50, before they sign off a new PIC.
Nobody makes a green hand a tankerman trainee on day one. You deck on a tank boat first, help the tankerman, and ask to learn. The hands who get picked for training are the ones already watching the transfer when they don't have to be.
Tankerman pay
| Step | Day rate | Rough year (two-for-one) |
|---|---|---|
| Deckhand | $160–$210 | $39k–$51k |
| Tankerman (PIC) | $310–$390 | $75k–$95k |
| Senior / chemical-endorsed tankerman | $400–$450 | $97k–$109k |
Petroleum and black oil pay the baseline PIC rate. Chemical and other hazmat cargo pays more because the certification and the risk both go up. Meals and lodging stay covered while you're aboard. The full breakdown, including even-time rotations like 20/20 and 28/28, is on the tankerman pay page.
Where are the tankerman jobs?
Wherever liquid cargo moves. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway carries a lot of petroleum and chemicals in tank barges, and so do the refinery and plant stretches around the Houston Ship Channel and the Mississippi between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Tank barges also run the inland rivers. The towboat jobs by river page describes each waterway.
Is tankerman work a good fit for you?
It suits a hand who likes procedure. Transfers run on checklists and paperwork, and a lot of it is standing a watch over a gauge while nothing happens. The bad hours come when something does happen. If you'd rather throw wire all day, a dry cargo boat may suit you better, and that road leads to the wheelhouse too. Want a feel for the timing? The load time calculator works out how long a loading watch runs.
Already hold your PIC? Or want to get there?
The CrewChange application has a spot for your tankerman endorsement, your transfer count, and the cargo you've worked. Green hands who want tank boats can say so too. It's free, and a working captain reads it.
Start my application →Tankerman questions, answered straight
Can I get hired straight in as a tankerman?
Only if you already hold the endorsement and the company accepts your transfer history. Everyone else comes up from the deck.
Is the tankerman endorsement worth it if I want the wheelhouse?
Plenty of pilots held one on the way up. The raise comes years before a license does, and your tank boat days still count as sea time. The deckhand to wheelhouse guide covers the sea time rules.
Do tankermen get benefits?
Most established inland companies offer health insurance and a 401(k) on top of the day rate, and many cover travel to the crew change point. It varies, so ask in the interview.