Durban to Jeddah shipping route.

The shipping route from Durban, South Africa to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia covers 3,964 nautical miles port to port, on a direct course. On a globe the two ports sit 5,777 km apart, so the ship sails 1.27 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Bab-el-Mandeb.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 11.8 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 13.8 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 9.2. 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 Jeddah to plan the full ocean transit time.

Container freight rates on Durban to Jeddah move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Jeddah (SAJED) carriers give about 7 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, Jeddah is the 9th shortest. Closer destinations include Karachi (3,958 nm), Nhava Sheva (3,817 nm) and Colombo (3,794 nm).