Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Covenas to Sikka
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Covenas to Sikka sails about 10,889 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope, about 36.3 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 69.2 days and burns about 3,436 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
69.2 d
36.3 d laden
Laden distance
10,889 nm
Via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea)
Fuel (VLSFO)
3,436 t
Round voyage
CO2
10,828 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Covenas → Sikka | 10,889 nm | 12.5 kn | 36.3 | 1,996 t |
Ballast Sikka → Covenas | 9,013 nm | 13 kn | 28.9 | 1,300 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 19,902 nm | 69.2 | 3,436 t |
Laden via the Cape of Good Hope; ballast via the Strait of Gibraltar, Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb.
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 3,436 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 10,828 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 Sikka?
About 36 days 7 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 10,889 nm via the Cape of Good Hope. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 69.2 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 3,436 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (1,996 t laden, 1,300 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 10,828 tonnes of CO2.