Lagos (Apapa) to Los Angeles shipping route.

Ships leaving Lagos (Apapa) for Los Angeles head north west and cover a sea distance of 8,246 nautical miles (15,272 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 12,434 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 24.5 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 28.6 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 19.1. 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 Lagos (Apapa) and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 11,250 nautical miles, 3,004 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

53 nm of the route, 1% 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 Lagos (Apapa) to Los Angeles move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Los Angeles (USLAX) carriers give about 4 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 Lagos (Apapa) in this directory, Los Angeles is the 42nd shortest. Closer destinations include Port Klang (8,125 nm), Tanjung Priok (7,840 nm) and Jebel Ali (7,493 nm).