London Gateway to Dalian shipping route.

London Gateway to Dalian is a 10,926 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north east from the United Kingdom to China. That is 20,235 km of water against 8,456 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and Suez Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Pure steaming time is 32.5 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 37.9 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 25.3. Liner schedules on the lane quote 47 to 70 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 13 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 Panama Canal instead. That route is 13,513 nautical miles, 2,587 more, and adds about 7.7 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, 21% 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 GBLGP to CNDLC start at $1,844 for a 20GP and $3,208 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 Dalian (CNDLC) 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 61 port to port routes from London Gateway in this directory, Dalian is the 56th shortest. Closer destinations include Incheon (10,911 nm), Busan (10,842 nm) and Qingdao (10,783 nm).