Hong Kong to London Gateway shipping route.

Hong Kong to London Gateway is a 9,744 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north west from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom. That is 18,045 km of water against 9,589 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and Strait of Gibraltar, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 33.8 days at 12 knots, 29.0 days at 14 knots and 22.6 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 38 to 57 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 24 sailings by 3 carriers (CMA CGM, Maersk and MSC).

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Cape of Good Hope instead. That route is 13,078 nautical miles, 3,335 more, and adds about 9.9 days at 14 knots. Longer voyages burn more fuel and tie up more ships, which is why freight rates on Red Sea lanes jumped when the diversions started.

2,286 nm of the route, 23% of it, lies inside North 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.

Recent freight rates for HKHKG to GBLGP start at $1,715 for a 20GP and $3,120 for a 40GP. These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At London Gateway (GBLGP) carriers give about 6 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 63 port to port routes from Hong Kong in this directory, London Gateway is the 49th shortest. Closer destinations include Felixstowe (9,742 nm), Cartagena (9,659 nm) and Le Havre (9,616 nm).