Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Ras Tanura to Fos-sur-Mer
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Ras Tanura to Fos-sur-Mer sails about 10,884 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Gibraltar, about 36.3 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 55.4 days and burns about 2,814 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
55.4 d
36.3 d laden
Laden distance
10,884 nm
Via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea)
Fuel (VLSFO)
2,814 t
Round voyage
CO2
8,868 t
4,434 t in EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Ras Tanura → Fos-sur-Mer | 10,884 nm | 12.5 kn | 36.3 | 1,995 t |
Ballast Fos-sur-Mer → Ras Tanura | 4,707 nm | 13 kn | 15.1 | 679 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 15,591 nm | 55.4 | 2,814 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 2,814 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 8,868 tonnes of CO2. One end of the voyage is in the EU ETS area, so half of the emissions at sea count, plus emissions at the EU berth: about 4,434 tonnes of CO2, or the same number of EU allowances.
From 2026 shipping companies surrender allowances for 100% of in-scope emissions. Who pays is for the charter party to say.
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 Fos-sur-Mer?
About 36 days 7 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 10,884 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 55.4 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 2,814 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (1,995 t laden, 679 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 8,868 tonnes of CO2.
Is this voyage in the EU Emissions Trading System?
Yes. One end is in the EU ETS area, so half the sea emissions count, plus emissions at the EU berth: about 4,434 tonnes of CO2, which means the same number of EU allowances to surrender.