London Gateway to Charleston shipping route.

Ships leaving London Gateway for Charleston head west and cover a sea distance of 3,740 nautical miles (6,927 km), on a direct course. The straight line between the ports is 6,591 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.

At sea, the voyage lasts 13.0 days at 12 knots, 11.1 days at 14 knots and 8.7 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 London Gateway and Charleston to plan the full ocean transit time.

2,052 nm of the route, 55% of it, lies inside North American ECA and North 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 London Gateway to Charleston move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Charleston (USCHS) 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 61 port to port routes from London Gateway in this directory, Charleston is the 15th shortest. Closer destinations include Mersin (3,298 nm), New York (3,252 nm) and Port Said (3,238 nm).