Laem Chabang to London Gateway shipping route.

Laem Chabang to London Gateway is a 9,107 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north west from Thailand to the United Kingdom. That is 16,867 km of water against 9,576 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 31.6 days at 12 knots, 27.1 days at 14 knots and 21.1 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 31 to 50 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 40 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 12,551 nautical miles, 3,444 more, and adds about 10.2 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.

2,286 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 GBLGP start at $1,625 for a 20GP and $2,900 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 65 port to port routes from Laem Chabang in this directory, London Gateway is the 49th shortest. Closer destinations include Felixstowe (9,106 nm), Lagos (Apapa) (9,053 nm) and Manzanillo (9,048 nm).