Voyage estimate
VLCC voyage: Sao Sebastiao to Long Beach
A VLCC carrying 270,000 tonnes from Sao Sebastiao to Long Beach sails about 8,023 nm laden via the Strait of Magellan, about 26.7 days at 12.5 knots. With the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, the round voyage takes about 55.0 days and burns about 2,702 tonnes of fuel.
Round voyage
55.0 d
26.7 d laden
Laden distance
8,023 nm
Avoiding the Panama Canal
Fuel (VLSFO)
2,702 t
Round voyage
CO2
8,514 t
Outside EU ETS
Round voyage breakdown
| Leg | Distance | Speed | Days | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laden Sao Sebastiao → Long Beach | 8,023 nm | 12.5 kn | 26.7 | 1,471 t |
Ballast Long Beach → Sao Sebastiao | 7,564 nm | 13 kn | 24.2 | 1,091 t |
Port time Loading and discharge | — | — | 4.0 | 140 t |
| Round voyage | 15,588 nm | 55.0 | 2,702 t |
Laden via the Strait of Magellan; 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: avoiding the Panama Canal.
Emissions and EU ETS
The round voyage burns about 2,702 tonnes of VLSFO, emitting about 8,514 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 Sao Sebastiao to Long Beach?
About 26 days 18 hours laden at 12.5 knots over 8,023 nm via the Strait of Magellan. The full round voyage, with the ballast leg back and 4 days in port, takes about 55.0 days.
How much fuel does a VLCC burn on this voyage?
About 2,702 tonnes of VLSFO for the round voyage (1,471 t laden, 1,091 t ballast, 140 t in port), emitting about 8,514 tonnes of CO2.