In 2015, no fewer than 51 very large crude carriers (VLCCs) discharged and/or loaded fuel oil in the port of Rotterdam. That is 22 more of these ‘giants’ (200,000-320,000 tonnes deadweight) than last year, and 12 more than in the record year of 2012. Last year, a total of around 28.3 billion litres of fuel oil was shipped from Rotterdam.
With last year’s 51, 283 VLCCs visited Rotterdam in the last ten years. Two thirds of these discharged crude oil before leaving again with fuel oil. Backers: ‘75% of the loading of the VLCCs takes place at the terminals in Rotterdam, 25% at the Caland Canal and Maasvlakte2 dolphins. There is often a combination of both locations, with most of the loading taking place at a terminal and the loading being completed at the dolphins.”
The average cargo volume of the mammoth tankers has increased over time by about 30,000 tonnes to 280,000 tonnes. The record in this field is still held by the TI Europe, which sailed with 353,000 tonnes of fuel oil in August 2013.
Incidentally, there was also a record number of Suezmax tankers (120,000-160,000 tonnes deadweight) in Rotterdam. With a total of 45, this was 4 higher than in 2014.