Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Esmeraldas to Sikka
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Esmeraldas to Sikka sails about 12,185 nm laden via the Strait of Magellan, about 40.6 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 76.0 days and burns about 3,786 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
76.0 d
40.6 d laden
Laden distance
12,185 nm
Avoiding the Panama Canal
Fuel (VLSFO)
3,786 t
Round voyage
CO2
11,931 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Esmeraldas → Sikka | 12,185 nm | 12.5 kn | 40.6 | 2,234 t |
Ballast Sikka → Esmeraldas | 9,793 nm | 13 kn | 31.4 | 1,412 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 21,978 nm | 76.0 | 3,786 t |
Laden via the Strait of Magellan; ballast via the Panama Canal, 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 and 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 3,786 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 11,931 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 Sikka?
About 40 days 15 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 12,185 nm via the Strait of Magellan. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 76.0 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 3,786 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,234 t laden, 1,412 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 11,931 tonnes of CO2.