Tanker Fleet vs Bulk Carriers: Where Is It Better to Work and Why Do They Pay More on Tankers?

Good day! The eternal debate: should you go for bulk carriers/container ships or the tanker fleet (Oil/Chemical/Gas tankers)? Tanker salaries are traditionally higher, there are bonuses for tank washing, and contracts are shorter. But there's no such thing as easy money.

A tanker is constant stress, the strictest safety controls, ongoing inspections (SIRE, CDI), and tons of terminal regulations where you can't even take your phone on deck. Plus, chemical vapors or crude oil fumes aren't good for your health. Bulk carriers are calmer, but they have their own "joys" — long port stays and lots of dust.

For those who have worked on both — where is it more comfortable? Is the tanker premium worth the stress?