Charleston to Laem Chabang shipping route.

Ships leaving Charleston for Laem Chabang head north and cover a sea distance of 11,425 nautical miles (21,159 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 14,915 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and Strait of Gibraltar, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Pure steaming time is 34.0 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 39.7 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 26.4. Liner schedules on the lane quote 39 to 63 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 43 sailings by 3 carriers (CMA CGM, Maersk and ZIM).

Red Sea security changes the sea distance on this lane. A ship sent via Panama Canal sails 12,339 nm instead of 11,425 nm and spends roughly 2.7 extra days at sea. Ask your forwarder which routing the carrier uses: the booking price and the arrival date both depend on it.

2,441 nm of the route, 21% of it, lies inside North American 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.

Recent freight rates for USCHS to THLCH start at $7,340 for a 20GP and $8,900 for a 40GP ($8,950 for a 40HC). These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Laem Chabang (THLCH) carriers give about 5 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, Laem Chabang is the 63rd shortest. Closer destinations include Ho Chi Minh City (11,257 nm), Manila (11,101 nm) and Yantian (10,939 nm).