Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Covenas to Ningbo
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Covenas to Ningbo sails about 13,747 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope and Sunda Strait, about 45.8 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 79.1 days and burns about 3,976 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
79.1 d
45.8 d laden
Laden distance
13,747 nm
Via the Cape (avoiding both Suez and Panama)
Fuel (VLSFO)
3,976 t
Round voyage
CO2
12,529 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Covenas → Ningbo | 13,747 nm | 12.5 kn | 45.8 | 2,520 t |
Ballast Ningbo → Covenas | 9,123 nm | 13 kn | 29.2 | 1,316 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 22,870 nm | 79.1 | 3,976 t |
Laden via the Cape of Good Hope and Sunda Strait; 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: via the Cape (avoiding both Suez and Panama).
Emissions and EU ETS
The round voyage burns about 3,976 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 12,529 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 Ningbo?
About 45 days 20 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 13,747 nm via the Cape of Good Hope and Sunda Strait. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 79.1 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 3,976 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,520 t laden, 1,316 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 12,529 tonnes of CO2.