Durban to Los Angeles shipping route.

Durban to Los Angeles is a 10,272 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading west from South Africa to the United States. That is 19,023 km of water against 17,093 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Cape of Good Hope and Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Pure steaming time is 30.6 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 35.7 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 23.8. 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 Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 10,616 nautical miles, 344 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Cape of Good Hope is congested or closed.

53 nm of the route, 1% 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 Durban 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 Durban in this directory, Los Angeles is the 62nd shortest. Closer destinations include Manzanillo (8,987 nm), Houston (8,324 nm) and Montreal (8,047 nm).