Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Basrah Oil Terminal to Rotterdam
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Basrah Oil Terminal to Rotterdam sails about 11,434 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz and Dover Strait, about 38.1 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 63.4 days and burns about 3,195 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
63.4 d
38.1 d laden
Laden distance
11,434 nm
Via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea)
Fuel (VLSFO)
3,195 t
Round voyage
CO2
10,069 t
5,034 t in EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Basrah Oil Terminal → Rotterdam | 11,434 nm | 12.5 kn | 38.1 | 2,096 t |
Ballast Rotterdam → Basrah Oil Terminal | 6,650 nm | 13 kn | 21.3 | 959 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 18,084 nm | 63.4 | 3,195 t |
Laden via the Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz and Dover Strait; ballast via the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Gibraltar and Dover Strait.
A laden VLCC draws about 22.5 m, deeper than the Suez Canal's 20.1 m limit, so the laden leg takes a longer route: via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea).
Emissions and EU ETS
The round voyage burns about 3,195 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 10,069 tonnes of CO2. One end of the voyage is in the EU ETS area, so half of the emissions at sea count, plus emissions at the EU berth: about 5,034 tonnes of CO2, or the same number of EU allowances.
From 2026 shipping companies surrender allowances for 100% of in-scope emissions. Who pays is for the charter party to say.
Assumptions
- Cargo
- 270,000 t
- Laden speed
- 12.5 kn at 55 t/day
- Ballast speed
- 13 kn at 45 t/day
- Port time
- 4 days at 35 t/day
- Laden draft
- 22.5 m
- CO2 factor
- 3.151 t per t fuel
Other ship sizes on this route
Questions
How long does a VLCC take from Basrah Oil Terminal to Rotterdam?
About 38 days 3 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 11,434 nm via the Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz and Dover Strait. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 63.4 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 3,195 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,096 t laden, 959 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 10,069 tonnes of CO2.
Is this voyage in the EU Emissions Trading System?
Yes. One end is in the EU ETS area, so half the sea emissions count, plus emissions at the EU berth: about 5,034 tonnes of CO2, which means the same number of EU allowances to surrender.