Charleston to Kaohsiung shipping route.

Ships leaving Charleston for Kaohsiung head north and cover a sea distance of 10,689 nautical miles (19,795 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 13,490 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.

Pure steaming time is 31.8 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 37.1 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 24.7. 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 Charleston and Kaohsiung to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,298 nautical miles, 1,609 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

367 nm of the route, 3% 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 Charleston to Kaohsiung move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Kaohsiung (TWKHH) carriers give about 7 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 64 port to port routes from Charleston in this directory, Kaohsiung is the 57th shortest. Closer destinations include Xiamen (10,684 nm), Singapore (10,628 nm) and Port Klang (10,443 nm).