Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Georgetown to Qingdao
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Georgetown to Qingdao sails about 13,002 nm laden via the Sunda Strait, about 43.3 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 80.7 days and burns about 4,024 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
80.7 d
43.3 d laden
Laden distance
13,002 nm
Avoiding the Panama Canal
Fuel (VLSFO)
4,024 t
Round voyage
CO2
12,679 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Georgetown → Qingdao | 13,002 nm | 12.5 kn | 43.3 | 2,384 t |
Ballast Qingdao → Georgetown | 10,401 nm | 13 kn | 33.3 | 1,500 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 23,403 nm | 80.7 | 4,024 t |
Laden via the 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: avoiding the Panama Canal.
Emissions and EU ETS
The round voyage burns about 4,024 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 12,679 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 Qingdao?
About 43 days 8 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 13,002 nm via the Sunda Strait. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 80.7 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 4,024 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,384 t laden, 1,500 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 12,679 tonnes of CO2.