Sri Lanka
South AfricaColombo to Durban shipping route.
3,794 nautical miles direct, about 11.3 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Colombo and Durban
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
ColomboSeaDurbanShipping time from Colombo to Durban
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| direct (shortest) | 3,794 nm | 13.2 d | 11.3 d | 8.8 d |
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About the Colombo to Durban shipping route
The shipping route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Durban, South Africa covers 3,794 nautical miles port to port, on a direct course. On a globe the two ports sit 6,623 km apart, so the ship sails 1.06 times the straight line distance. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.
Pure steaming time is 11.3 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 13.2 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 8.8. 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 Durban to plan the full ocean transit time.
Container freight rates on Colombo to Durban move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Durban (ZADUR) 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, Durban is the 22nd shortest. Closer destinations include Ningbo (3,699 nm), Port Said (3,525 nm) and Kaohsiung (3,275 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Colombo to Durban?
The port to port distance from Colombo to Durban is 3,794 nautical miles (7,027 km), direct.
What is the shipping time from Colombo to Durban?
About 11.3 days at 14 knots and 8.8 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 Durban 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 - Cape Town to Durban875 nm
Mombasa to Durban1,759 nm- Salalah to Durban3,137 nm
Djibouti to Durban3,353 nm
Lagos (Apapa) to Durban3,463 nm- Nhava Sheva to Durban3,817 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.