Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Georgetown to Long Beach
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Georgetown to Long Beach sails about 10,987 nm laden via the Strait of Magellan, about 36.6 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 55.1 days and burns about 2,806 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
55.1 d
36.6 d laden
Laden distance
10,987 nm
Avoiding the Panama Canal
Fuel (VLSFO)
2,806 t
Round voyage
CO2
8,842 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Georgetown → Long Beach | 10,987 nm | 12.5 kn | 36.6 | 2,014 t |
Ballast Long Beach → Georgetown | 4,520 nm | 13 kn | 14.5 | 652 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 15,507 nm | 55.1 | 2,806 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 2,806 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 8,842 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 Georgetown to Long Beach?
About 36 days 15 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 10,987 nm via the Strait of Magellan. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 55.1 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 2,806 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,014 t laden, 652 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 8,842 tonnes of CO2.