In this day and age there is a tendency to call anyone who is/was going about their work a "hero" . I do not claim that the men who sailed throughout the war on tankers were doing anything but their job - the enemy was just an additional hazard to everyday life. However. the "officers" (that is the Masters, Mates, Apprentices.  Engineers & Petty Officers ) who were company men knew they were, each trip, going back  on a tanker. It certainly took courage - non more so than the Engineers who had little chance of getting out of the engine-room. A very famous Daily Mirror cartoon certainly depicts this - click on this image for a larger view  

Unknown tanker

Unknown Tanker

Possibly ATHEL VIKING

Unknown Tanker