Busan to New York shipping route.

Ships leaving Busan for New York head north and cover a sea distance of 10,209 nautical miles (18,908 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 11,263 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes 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 30.4 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 35.4 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 23.6. 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 Busan and New York to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,715 nautical miles, 2,506 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

522 nm of the route, 5% 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 Busan to New York move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At New York (USNYC) 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 Busan in this directory, New York is the 52nd shortest. Closer destinations include Savannah (9,802 nm), Charleston (9,793 nm) and Houston (9,737 nm).