Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Covenas to Long Beach
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Covenas to Long Beach sails about 12,162 nm laden via the Strait of Magellan, about 40.5 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 55.2 days and burns about 2,848 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
55.2 d
40.5 d laden
Laden distance
12,162 nm
Avoiding the Panama Canal
Fuel (VLSFO)
2,848 t
Round voyage
CO2
8,973 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Covenas → Long Beach | 12,162 nm | 12.5 kn | 40.5 | 2,230 t |
Ballast Long Beach → Covenas | 3,315 nm | 13 kn | 10.6 | 478 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 15,477 nm | 55.2 | 2,848 t |
Laden via the Strait of Magellan; ballast via the Panama Canal.
A laden VLCC draws about 22.5 m, deeper than the Panama Canal's 15.2 m limit, so the laden leg takes a longer route: avoiding the Panama Canal.
Emissions and EU ETS
The round voyage burns about 2,848 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 8,973 tonnes of CO2. Neither port is in the EU ETS area, so no EU allowances are needed for this voyage.
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 Covenas to Long Beach?
About 40 days 13 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 12,162 nm via the Strait of Magellan. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 55.2 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 2,848 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,230 t laden, 478 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 8,973 tonnes of CO2.