Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Ras Tanura to Philadelphia
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Ras Tanura to Philadelphia sails about 11,934 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope and Strait of Hormuz, about 39.8 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 70.6 days and burns about 3,537 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
70.6 d
39.8 d laden
Laden distance
11,934 nm
Via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea)
Fuel (VLSFO)
3,537 t
Round voyage
CO2
11,145 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Ras Tanura → Philadelphia | 11,934 nm | 12.5 kn | 39.8 | 2,188 t |
Ballast Philadelphia → Ras Tanura | 8,383 nm | 13 kn | 26.9 | 1,209 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 20,317 nm | 70.6 | 3,537 t |
Laden via the Cape of Good Hope and Strait of Hormuz; ballast via the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, Suez Canal and Strait of Gibraltar.
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 3,537 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 11,145 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 Philadelphia?
About 39 days 19 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 11,934 nm via the Cape of Good Hope and Strait of Hormuz. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 70.6 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 3,537 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,188 t laden, 1,209 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 11,145 tonnes of CO2.