Charleston to Yantian shipping route.

Ships leaving Charleston for Yantian head north and cover a sea distance of 10,939 nautical miles (20,259 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 13,677 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.

At sea, the voyage lasts 38.0 days at 12 knots, 32.6 days at 14 knots and 25.3 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 21 to 60 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 104 sailings by 11 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, HMM and Hapag-Lloyd).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,082 nautical miles, 1,143 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.

Recent freight rates for USCHS to CNYTN start at $5,839 for a 20GP and $7,548 for a 40GP. These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Yantian (CNYTN) carriers give about 6 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, Yantian is the 60th shortest. Closer destinations include Hong Kong (10,939 nm), Tanjung Priok (10,905 nm) and Kaohsiung (10,689 nm).