Karachi to Algeciras shipping route.

Ships leaving Karachi for Algeciras head north west and cover a sea distance of 4,821 nautical miles (8,928 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 6,891 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb and Suez Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 16.7 days at 12 knots, 14.4 days at 14 knots and 11.2 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 Karachi and Algeciras to plan the full ocean transit time.

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 9,914 nautical miles, 5,093 more, and adds about 15.2 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.

1,925 nm of the route, 40% of it, lies inside 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 Karachi to Algeciras move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Algeciras (ESALG) 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 64 port to port routes from Karachi in this directory, Algeciras is the 27th shortest. Closer destinations include Kaohsiung (4,669 nm), Xiamen (4,657 nm) and Valencia (4,563 nm).