Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Houston to Sikka
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Houston to Sikka sails about 12,201 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope, about 40.7 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 75.6 days and burns about 3,770 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
75.6 d
40.7 d laden
Laden distance
12,201 nm
Via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea)
Fuel (VLSFO)
3,770 t
Round voyage
CO2
11,878 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Houston → Sikka | 12,201 nm | 12.5 kn | 40.7 | 2,237 t |
Ballast Sikka → Houston | 9,658 nm | 13 kn | 31.0 | 1,393 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 21,858 nm | 75.6 | 3,770 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 3,770 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 11,878 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 Houston to Sikka?
About 40 days 16 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 12,201 nm via the Cape of Good Hope. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 75.6 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 3,770 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,237 t laden, 1,393 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 11,878 tonnes of CO2.