The first graduates of Vane Brothers’ new Tankerman Training program have gained knowledge and experience that will help them succeed for years to come while working on board the company’s barges.
“This program is an invaluable resource for Vane Brothers,” says Captain Rick Iuliucci, Vice President, Operations. “The ability to train Tankermen to staff our fleet well into the future is critical.”
Two sessions of Tankerman Training kicked off in 2022, with the first group entering the program in early October and the second group arriving in December.
Each trainee receives up to one week of hands-on instruction at Vane’s Baltimore headquarters, followed later by one week of Tankerman Person-in-Charge (PIC) classroom learning at the nearby Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS).
“The training is unique to the industry because it is customized to Vane’s fleet and our specific policies and procedures,” says Iuliucci. “The good habits developed during these training sessions will serve the mariners well throughout their careers, and we in turn are getting the best-trained Tankermen for the company and our customers.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Austin Firth operates the crane on the barge Double Skin 19 during a training session in December behind Vane Brothers' Baltimore headquarters.
About Vane Brothers Founded in 1898, Vane Brothers is a Jones Act marine transportation provider operating along the U.S. East, West and Gulf coasts, in the Caribbean, and in the Great Lakes region. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the company provides a wide range of functions including bunkering, launch services, and safety equipment inspection. Operating nearly 50 tugboats and 80 barges, Vane Brothers sets the standard of excellence in the maritime industry with up-to-date equipment, well-trained crews and a commitment to safety.