Sri Lanka
South AfricaColombo to Cape Town shipping route.
4,582 nautical miles via Cape of Good Hope, about 13.6 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Colombo and Cape Town
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
ColomboCape of Good HopeCape TownShipping time from Colombo to Cape Town
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Cape of Good Hope (shortest) | 4,582 nm | 15.9 d | 13.6 d | 10.6 d |
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About the Colombo to Cape Town shipping route
Ships leaving Colombo for Cape Town head south west and cover a sea distance of 4,582 nautical miles (8,486 km), via Cape of Good Hope. The straight line between the ports is 7,888 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Cape of Good Hope.
At sea, the voyage lasts 15.9 days at 12 knots, 13.6 days at 14 knots and 10.6 days at 18 knots. 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 Colombo and Cape Town to plan the full ocean transit time.
Container freight rates on Colombo to Cape Town move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Cape Town (ZACPT) carriers give about 3 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 Colombo in this directory, Cape Town is the 33rd shortest. Closer destinations include Tokyo (4,551 nm), Yokohama (4,540 nm) and Marsaxlokk (4,477 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Colombo to Cape Town?
The port to port distance from Colombo to Cape Town is 4,582 nautical miles (8,486 km), via Cape of Good Hope. The route passes Cape of Good Hope.
What is the shipping time from Colombo to Cape Town?
About 13.6 days at 14 knots and 10.6 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Cape Town to Colombo has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Colombo to
Nhava Sheva931 nm - Colombo to Mundra1,265 nm
- Colombo to
Karachi1,419 nm - Colombo to
Port Klang1,420 nm - Colombo to
Singapore1,605 nm - Colombo to
Salalah1,838 nm - Durban to Cape Town875 nm
Lagos (Apapa) to Cape Town2,619 nm
Mombasa to Cape Town2,631 nm
Santos to Cape Town3,508 nm
Buenos Aires to Cape Town3,846 nm- Salalah to Cape Town4,010 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.