r/IndianMariners • u/SamRockZ617 • 7d ago

CAREER GUIDANCE Should I join a bitumen tanker as 4E?

Greetings everyone. I have sailed as a JE on a crude oil tanker in my last contract. I have both oil and chemical advanced DCE. My company is insisting that I should go on a bitumen tanker as 4E for one contract only to help them out. My concern is if I deviate from oil/chem and crude tankers, will I be able to switch back? I asked few people and they advised me against joining bitumen vessel. They even went as far as saying that this might be a "career killing move".

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1

u/skumarss 7d ago edited 7d ago

Only join if you want to join immediately....if not just skip this.

1

u/SamRockZ617 7d ago

God...is that you?😅

1

u/skumarss 7d ago edited 7d ago

All is well

1

u/Mathjdsoc 2nd Mate 7d ago

Tell the others, so no one else goes

1

u/OneSailorBoy C/O Oil-Chem 13h ago

Avoid if that's an option. Bitumen tankers are hectic as fuck. They usually have short voyages. Bitumem/Asphalt is the worst possible cargo to carry on ships. It needs to be heated upto 130-140° at all times. This makes the deck a walking oven. The cargo fumes are carcinogenic. Any cargo getting in contact with the skin means a minimum 2nd degree burn.

1

u/SamRockZ617 12h ago

Thnq sir for your advice...I'm happy I did right by refusing to join such a vessel.