Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Ras Tanura to Aliaga
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Ras Tanura to Aliaga sails about 11,825 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Gibraltar, about 39.4 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 55.5 days and burns about 2,850 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
55.5 d
39.4 d laden
Laden distance
11,825 nm
Via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea)
Fuel (VLSFO)
2,850 t
Round voyage
CO2
8,979 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Ras Tanura → Aliaga | 11,825 nm | 12.5 kn | 39.4 | 2,168 t |
Ballast Aliaga → Ras Tanura | 3,755 nm | 13 kn | 12.0 | 542 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 15,580 nm | 55.5 | 2,850 t |
Laden via the Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Gibraltar; ballast via the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb and Suez Canal.
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 2,850 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 8,979 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 Ras Tanura to Aliaga?
About 39 days 10 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 11,825 nm via the Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Gibraltar. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 55.5 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 2,850 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,168 t laden, 542 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 8,979 tonnes of CO2.