Your Aframax tanker is fixed to load a Gasoil cargo at Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela in July for discharge at Singapore. The vessel can be routed via the Cape of Good Hope the longer route by two days or via the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal both of which are of similar overall distance. What factors will you take into account and what information should you find out when deciding which route to take and what sources of information do you have to help you make that decision. Use the world map provided to support your answer, showing the possible routes, load and discharge ports and important features on the voyage together with a bunker location on each route
When deciding which route to take for an Aframax tanker transporting a Gasoil cargo from Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela to Singapore, there are several factors to take into account. These include:
Distance: While the overall distance of the route via the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal is similar, the route via the Cape of Good Hope is significantly longer. This may affect the amount of fuel required for the voyage and therefore the cost of bunkers.
Transit time: The route via the Cape of Good Hope takes two days longer than the route via the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal. This may be a factor to consider, depending on the time sensitivity of the cargo.
Canal fees and restrictions: Both the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal have fees and restrictions that need to be taken into account. For example, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has a maximum draft restriction of 66 feet (20.12 meters) and a maximum beam restriction of 160 feet (48.77 meters) for Aframax tankers. Also, the Panama Canal have the maximum draft restriction and the maximum beam restriction for Aframax.
Weather: Weather conditions can vary significantly along different routes, and some routes may be more prone to storms or other weather-related hazards. The Cape of Good Hope route, for example, is known for its strong winds and high seas.
Piracy: Some routes, such as the Gulf of Aden, are known for piracy, which can pose a risk to the vessel and its crew.
Political situation: The political situation in certain regions can be unstable, which can affect the safety and security of the vessel and its crew, and in Venezuela there are big restrictions on trade and bunkering.
When planning the voyage, it's important to gather information from various sources to help you make an informed decision. These sources include:
Weather forecasts, to get an idea of the conditions to expect along the different routes.
Navigational charts, to help plan the voyage and identify any potential hazards such as shallow waters or rocky areas.
Notices to mariners, to stay informed of any changes to the routing or any other relevant information.
Piracy reports, to stay informed of the piracy situation in different regions.
It also would be important to check with bunker providers in ports along each route, to get an idea of the availability and cost of fuel.
An example of routes could be the following:
Via Cape of Good Hope: The vessel would sail from Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela to Cape Town, South Africa, where it could bunker before continuing on to Singapore. The Cape of Good Hope route is approximately 23,000 nautical miles and takes approximately 31 days of voyage.
Via Suez Canal: The vessel would sail from Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela to Suez Canal, then would transit it and would continue to Singapore. The Suez Canal route is approximately 19,000 nautical miles and takes approximately 28 days of voyage.
Via Panama Canal: The vessel would sail from Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela to Panama Canal, then would transit it and would continue to Singapore. The Panama Canal route is approximately 18,000 nautical miles and takes approximately 27 days of voyage.
It is important to notice that depending on actual scenario and restrictions on each canal, the distance and voyage days might change a bit. And also, the political and economic situation in the countries of transit or load/discharge ports could affect the final decision and route selection.