Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Ras Tanura to Trieste
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Ras Tanura to Trieste sails about 11,859 nm laden via the Cape of Good Hope, Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Gibraltar, about 39.5 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 57.9 days and burns about 2,961 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
57.9 d
39.5 d laden
Laden distance
11,859 nm
Via the Cape of Good Hope (avoiding Suez and the Red Sea)
Fuel (VLSFO)
2,961 t
Round voyage
CO2
9,329 t
4,664 t in EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Ras Tanura → Trieste | 11,859 nm | 12.5 kn | 39.5 | 2,174 t |
Ballast Trieste → Ras Tanura | 4,481 nm | 13 kn | 14.4 | 646 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 16,341 nm | 57.9 | 2,961 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 2,961 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 9,329 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 4,664 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 Trieste?
About 39 days 13 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 11,859 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 57.9 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 2,961 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (2,174 t laden, 646 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 9,329 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 4,664 tonnes of CO2, which means the same number of EU allowances to surrender.