Jebel Ali to Seattle shipping route.

Ships leaving Jebel Ali for Seattle head north and cover a sea distance of 10,667 nautical miles (19,756 km), via Strait of Malacca. The straight line between the ports is 11,936 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Malacca and Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 31.8 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 37.0 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 24.7. 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 Jebel Ali and Seattle to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Sunda Strait, 11,265 nautical miles, 597 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Sunda Strait is congested or closed.

548 nm of the route, 5% 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 Jebel Ali to Seattle move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Seattle (USSEA) carriers give about 3.94 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 Jebel Ali in this directory, Seattle is the 61st shortest. Closer destinations include Callao (10,650 nm), Houston (9,663 nm) and Balboa (9,264 nm).