Algeciras to Seattle shipping route.

Algeciras to Seattle is a 8,578 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north west from Spain to the United States. That is 15,887 km of water against 8,795 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar and Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 25.5 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 29.8 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 19.9. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Algeciras and Seattle to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 13,492 nautical miles, 4,914 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar is congested or closed.

1,447 nm of the route, 17% of it, lies inside North American ECA, US Caribbean Sea ECA and Mediterranean Sea ECA. In an emission control area ships must burn fuel with no more than 0.1% sulphur or clean the exhaust with scrubbers. That fuel costs more, and carriers add it to the ocean freight bill as a low sulphur or ECA surcharge.

Container freight rates on Algeciras to Seattle move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Seattle (USSEA) carriers give about 3.94 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 65 port to port routes from Algeciras in this directory, Seattle is the 51st shortest. Closer destinations include Yantian (8,452 nm), Hong Kong (8,430 nm) and Manila (8,354 nm).