Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Esmeraldas to Houston
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Esmeraldas to Houston sails about 11,116 nm laden via the Strait of Magellan, about 37.1 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 47.6 days and burns about 2,473 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
47.6 d
37.1 d laden
Laden distance
11,116 nm
Avoiding the Panama Canal
Fuel (VLSFO)
2,473 t
Round voyage
CO2
7,793 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Esmeraldas → Houston | 11,116 nm | 12.5 kn | 37.1 | 2,038 t |
Ballast Houston → Esmeraldas | 2,048 nm | 13 kn | 6.6 | 295 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 13,164 nm | 47.6 | 2,473 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 2,473 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 7,793 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 Esmeraldas to Houston?
About 37 days 1 hour laden at 12.5 knots over 11,116 nm via the Strait of Magellan. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 47.6 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 2,473 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,038 t laden, 295 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 7,793 tonnes of CO2.