Laem Chabang to Felixstowe shipping route.

Laem Chabang to Felixstowe is a 9,106 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north west from Thailand to the United Kingdom. That is 16,864 km of water against 9,505 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.

Pure steaming time is 27.1 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 31.6 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 21.1. Liner schedules on the lane quote 34 to 43 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 18 sailings by 2 carriers (CMA CGM and OOCL).

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 12,550 nautical miles, 3,444 more, and adds about 10.3 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.

2,285 nm of the route, 25% 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 THLCH to GBFXT start at $2,192 for a 20GP and $3,084 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 Felixstowe (GBFXT) carriers give about 5 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 Laem Chabang in this directory, Felixstowe is the 48th shortest. Closer destinations include Lagos (Apapa) (9,053 nm), Manzanillo (9,048 nm) and Le Havre (8,980 nm).