VLCC
Abbreviation: VLCC
Very Large Crude Carrier — single-hull-era 200,000-320,000 DWT crude tanker; today all double-hull post-OPA-90.
In practice
VLCC voyages typically run between Middle East / West Africa / South America and Asia / Europe / US. Loaded transits avoid coastal exposure (TSS routing) due to draft and manoeuvrability. Officers gain VLCC experience as second mate / 2/E and progress to chief / master after 5+ years.
Regulatory detail & full definition
A VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) is a crude-oil tanker of roughly 200,000 to 320,000 deadweight tonnes, the workhorse of the long-haul crude trades — above all the movement of Middle East crude to the Far East, Europe and the US Gulf. A fully laden VLCC carries around two million barrels of oil on a draft of about 20–22 metres, which restricts it to deep-water terminals, offshore SBM/SPM buoys and lightering anchorages rather than conventional berths. The still-larger ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier) exceeds 320,000 DWT but is now rare, most having been scrapped as trade patterns favoured the more flexible VLCC.
Related
Source: Industry AFRA convention; Clarksons Tanker Register
High confidence
Editorial confidence: how we grade.