Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: LOOP to Ningbo
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from LOOP to Ningbo sails about 14,824 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope and Sunda Strait, about 49.4 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 85.9 days and burns about 4,321 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
85.9 d
49.4 d laden
Laden distance
14,824 nm
Via the Cape (avoiding both Suez and Panama)
Fuel (VLSFO)
4,321 t
Round voyage
CO2
13,616 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden LOOP → Ningbo | 14,824 nm | 12.5 kn | 49.4 | 2,718 t |
Ballast Ningbo → LOOP | 10,147 nm | 13 kn | 32.5 | 1,464 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 24,971 nm | 85.9 | 4,321 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 4,321 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 13,616 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 LOOP to Ningbo?
About 49 days 10 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 14,824 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 85.9 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 4,321 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,718 t laden, 1,464 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 13,616 tonnes of CO2.