Panama
United StatesBalboa to Los Angeles shipping route.
2,974 nautical miles via Panama Canal, about 8.9 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Balboa and Los Angeles
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
BalboaPanama CanalLos AngelesShipping time from Balboa to Los Angeles
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Panama Canal (shortest) | 2,974 nm | 10.3 d | 8.9 d | 6.9 d |
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About the Balboa to Los Angeles shipping route
The shipping route from Balboa, Panama to Los Angeles, United States covers 2,974 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 4,819 km apart, so the ship sails 1.14 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.
Pure steaming time is 8.9 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 10.3 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 6.9. 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 Balboa and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.
53 nm of the route, 2% of it, lies inside North American 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 Balboa to Los Angeles move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Los Angeles (USLAX) carriers give about 4 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 Balboa in this directory, Los Angeles is the 8th shortest. Closer destinations include New York (2,025 nm), Manzanillo (1,690 nm) and Savannah (1,617 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Balboa to Los Angeles?
The port to port distance from Balboa to Los Angeles is 2,974 nautical miles (5,507 km), via Panama Canal. The route passes Panama Canal.
What is the shipping time from Balboa to Los Angeles?
About 8.9 days at 14 knots and 6.9 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
How much of the route is in an emission control area?
53 nm sit inside ECA waters (North American ECA), where ships burn 0.1% sulphur fuel.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Los Angeles to Balboa has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Balboa to
Cartagena328 nm - Balboa to
Callao1,386 nm - Balboa to Houston1,552 nm
- Balboa to Charleston1,608 nm
- Balboa to Savannah1,617 nm
- Balboa to
Manzanillo1,690 nm - Oakland to Los Angeles385 nm
- Seattle to Los Angeles1,214 nm
Vancouver to Los Angeles1,235 nm- Manzanillo to Los Angeles1,284 nm
- Cartagena to Los Angeles3,301 nm
- Callao to Los Angeles3,654 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.