Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Houston to Ulsan
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Houston to Ulsan sails about 15,538 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope and Sunda Strait, about 51.8 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 87.5 days and burns about 4,413 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
87.5 d
51.8 d laden
Laden distance
15,538 nm
Via the Cape (avoiding both Suez and Panama)
Fuel (VLSFO)
4,413 t
Round voyage
CO2
13,907 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Houston → Ulsan | 15,538 nm | 12.5 kn | 51.8 | 2,849 t |
Ballast Ulsan → Houston | 9,879 nm | 13 kn | 31.7 | 1,425 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 25,417 nm | 87.5 | 4,413 t |
Laden via the Cape of Good Hope and 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: via the Cape (avoiding both Suez and Panama).
Emissions and EU ETS
The round voyage burns about 4,413 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 13,907 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 Ulsan?
About 51 days 19 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 15,538 nm via the Cape of Good Hope and Sunda Strait. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 87.5 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 4,413 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,849 t laden, 1,425 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 13,907 tonnes of CO2.