Sri Lanka
United StatesColombo to Los Angeles shipping route.
9,376 nautical miles via Strait of Malacca, about 27.9 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Colombo and Los Angeles
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
ColomboStrait of MalaccaLos AngelesShipping time from Colombo to Los Angeles
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Strait of Malacca (shortest) | 9,376 nm | 32.6 d | 27.9 d | 21.7 d |
| via Sunda Strait | 9,899 nm | 34.4 d | 29.5 d | 22.9 d |
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About the Colombo to Los Angeles shipping route
Colombo to Los Angeles is a 9,376 nautical mile shipping route via Strait of Malacca, heading north from Sri Lanka to the United States. That is 17,364 km of water against 15,108 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Malacca.
At sea, the voyage lasts 32.6 days at 12 knots, 27.9 days at 14 knots and 21.7 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 Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.
The next option is via Sunda Strait, 9,899 nautical miles, 523 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Sunda Strait is congested or closed.
683 nm of the route, 7% 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 Colombo to Los Angeles move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Los Angeles (USLAX) carriers give about 4 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, Los Angeles is the 60th shortest. Closer destinations include Savannah (9,135 nm), Charleston (9,081 nm) and Oakland (9,041 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Colombo to Los Angeles?
The port to port distance from Colombo to Los Angeles is 9,376 nautical miles (17,364 km), via Strait of Malacca. The route passes Strait of Malacca.
What is the shipping time from Colombo to Los Angeles?
About 27.9 days at 14 knots and 21.7 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
How much of the route is in an emission control area?
683 nm sit inside ECA waters (North American ECA), where ships burn 0.1% sulphur fuel.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Los Angeles 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 - Oakland to Los Angeles385 nm
- Seattle to Los Angeles1,214 nm
Vancouver to Los Angeles1,235 nm
Manzanillo to Los Angeles1,284 nm
Balboa to Los Angeles2,974 nm
Cartagena to Los Angeles3,301 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.