London Gateway to Seattle shipping route.

London Gateway to Seattle is a 8,972 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north west from the United Kingdom to the United States. That is 16,616 km of water against 7,725 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 31.2 days at 12 knots, 26.7 days at 14 knots and 20.8 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 Seattle to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 14,434 nautical miles, 5,462 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

1,710 nm of the route, 19% of it, lies inside North American ECA, US Caribbean Sea 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 Seattle move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Seattle (USSEA) carriers give about 3.94 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, Seattle is the 42nd shortest. Closer destinations include Ho Chi Minh City (8,940 nm), Tanjung Priok (8,588 nm) and Singapore (8,311 nm).