Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Jose to Sikka
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Jose to Sikka sails about 10,138 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope, about 33.8 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 65.0 days and burns about 3,221 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
65.0 d
33.8 d laden
Laden distance
10,138 nm
Via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea)
Fuel (VLSFO)
3,221 t
Round voyage
CO2
10,151 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Jose → Sikka | 10,138 nm | 12.5 kn | 33.8 | 1,859 t |
Ballast Sikka → Jose | 8,478 nm | 13 kn | 27.2 | 1,223 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 18,616 nm | 65.0 | 3,221 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 3,221 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 10,151 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 Jose to Sikka?
About 33 days 19 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 10,138 nm via the Cape of Good Hope. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 65.0 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 3,221 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (1,859 t laden, 1,223 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 10,151 tonnes of CO2.