South Africa
Sri LankaDurban to Colombo shipping route.
3,794 nautical miles direct, about 11.3 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Durban and Colombo
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
DurbanSeaColomboShipping time from Durban to Colombo
| 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 Durban to Colombo shipping route
The shipping route from Durban, South Africa to Colombo, Sri Lanka 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 Durban and Colombo to plan the full ocean transit time.
Container freight rates on Durban to Colombo move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Colombo (LKCMB) 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 65 port to port routes from Durban in this directory, Colombo is the 6th shortest. Closer destinations include Lagos (Apapa) (3,463 nm), Djibouti (3,353 nm) and Salalah (3,137 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Durban to Colombo?
The port to port distance from Durban to Colombo is 3,794 nautical miles (7,027 km), direct.
What is the shipping time from Durban to Colombo?
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 Colombo to Durban has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Durban to Cape Town875 nm
- Durban to
Mombasa1,759 nm - Durban to
Salalah3,137 nm - Durban to
Djibouti3,353 nm - Durban to
Lagos (Apapa)3,463 nm - Durban to
Nhava Sheva3,817 nm - Nhava Sheva to Colombo931 nm
- Mundra to Colombo1,265 nm
Karachi to Colombo1,419 nm
Port Klang to Colombo1,420 nm
Singapore to Colombo1,605 nm- Salalah to Colombo1,838 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.