Genoa to Los Angeles shipping route.

The shipping route from Genoa, Italy to Los Angeles, United States covers 8,220 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 9,821 km apart, so the ship sails 1.55 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar and Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 28.5 days at 12 knots, 24.5 days at 14 knots and 19.0 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 Genoa and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 13,192 nautical miles, 4,972 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar is congested or closed.

1,088 nm of the route, 13% of it, lies inside North American ECA, US Caribbean Sea ECA and Mediterranean Sea 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 Genoa 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 Genoa in this directory, Los Angeles is the 51st shortest. Closer destinations include Kaohsiung (8,181 nm), Xiamen (8,170 nm) and Yantian (7,966 nm).