Los Angeles to Marsaxlokk shipping route.

Ships leaving Los Angeles for Marsaxlokk head north east and cover a sea distance of 8,344 nautical miles (15,453 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 10,861 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar and Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 29.0 days at 12 knots, 24.8 days at 14 knots and 19.3 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 Los Angeles and Marsaxlokk to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 13,316 nautical miles, 4,972 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar is congested or closed.

1,212 nm of the route, 15% of it, lies inside North American ECA, US Caribbean 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 Los Angeles to Marsaxlokk move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Marsaxlokk (MTMAR) 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 65 port to port routes from Los Angeles in this directory, Marsaxlokk is the 50th shortest. Closer destinations include Lagos (Apapa) (8,246 nm), Genoa (8,220 nm) and Gothenburg (8,121 nm).