London Gateway to Jeddah shipping route.

Ships leaving London Gateway for Jeddah head south east and cover a sea distance of 3,954 nautical miles (7,323 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 4,713 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal and Strait of Gibraltar, 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 11.8 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 13.7 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 9.2. 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 Jeddah to plan the full ocean transit time.

2,286 nm of the route, 58% 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.

Container freight rates on London Gateway to Jeddah move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Jeddah (SAJED) carriers give about 7 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, Jeddah is the 17th shortest. Closer destinations include Savannah (3,795 nm), Charleston (3,740 nm) and Mersin (3,298 nm).