Los Angeles to Piraeus shipping route.

Los Angeles to Piraeus is a 8,792 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north east from the United States to Greece. That is 16,283 km of water against 11,128 km as the crow flies. 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 30.5 days at 12 knots, 26.2 days at 14 knots and 20.4 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 Piraeus to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,440 nautical miles, 4,648 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

1,656 nm of the route, 19% 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 Piraeus move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Piraeus (GRPIR) carriers give about 6.75 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, Piraeus is the 52nd shortest. Closer destinations include Gdansk (8,518 nm), Marsaxlokk (8,344 nm) and Lagos (Apapa) (8,246 nm).