Case Study · 2023

Sikka → Niterói

Indian Ocean · Cape · South Atlantic
Tanker 2023 7,922.12 nm No ECA
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13.31%
FOC reduction
579.38 vs 668.31 MT · −88.93 MT
−2.53%
Distance saved
7,922.12 nm optimised · −200 nm
−2.47%
Voyage duration
−11h 18m vs historical AIS
Voyage Summary

Sikka to Niterói — 2023

India-to-Brazil voyage from Sikka to Niterói, routing south through the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, and across the South Atlantic – 30 days, 7,922 nm. The operational risk on this lane is the Cape rounding, where the route hit its southernmost point at 35.9°S in the Roaring Forties. The optimised track cut Sea State 6+ exposure (≥4.0 m) nearly in half – from 6.4% of the historical track to 3.6% – and reduced Sea State 5+ exposure from 36.0% to 26.0%. Route-averaged significant wave height was 2.17 m. The vessel operated on VLSFO throughout with no ECA transits, so the 13.31% FOC reduction (89 MT saved) is a pure routing-and-speed optimisation result, not a fuel-grade effect.

Long-haul VFWR validated
Sea-state profile

The conditions the optimised track held against

How the voyage performed across wave height and Douglas Sea State exposure — recorded waypoint-by-waypoint.

Metric Optimised Historical Delta
Sea State 5+ 26.0% 36.0% 10.0pp reduction
Sea State 6+ 3.6% 6.4% 2.8pp reduction
Interactive Route

Explore the optimised track

Waypoint-by-waypoint against the historical AIS baseline.

Methodology

How this voyage was verified

The historical AIS track was pulled from public records and matched against the master’s own reports. The VF Engine then re-routed the same vessel under the weather as it actually occurred — not a forecast. Both tracks were scored by the same FOC prediction model and compared waypoint by waypoint. The 13.31% reduction is the delta sailed at the same speed band, under the same wind and wave conditions.

Read the full validation methodology
Previous voyage Tubarão Gulf of Mexico 13.67% · Tanker · 2022 Next voyage Porvoo Skaw STS Area 6.67% · General Cargo · 2020

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