Australia
Sri LankaMelbourne to Colombo shipping route.
4,870 nautical miles direct, about 14.5 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Melbourne and Colombo
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
MelbourneSeaColomboShipping time from Melbourne to Colombo
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| direct (shortest) | 4,870 nm | 16.9 d | 14.5 d | 11.3 d |
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About the Melbourne to Colombo shipping route
Ships leaving Melbourne for Colombo head west and cover a sea distance of 4,870 nautical miles (9,018 km), on a direct course. The straight line between the ports is 8,358 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.
Pure steaming time is 14.5 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 16.9 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 11.3. 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 Melbourne and Colombo to plan the full ocean transit time.
Container freight rates on Melbourne to Colombo move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Colombo (LKCMB) carriers give about 5 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 Melbourne in this directory, Colombo is the 9th shortest. Closer destinations include Laem Chabang (4,688 nm), Ho Chi Minh City (4,520 nm) and Manila (4,495 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Melbourne to Colombo?
The port to port distance from Melbourne to Colombo is 4,870 nautical miles (9,018 km), direct.
What is the shipping time from Melbourne to Colombo?
About 14.5 days at 14 knots and 11.3 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Colombo to Melbourne has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Melbourne to Sydney596 nm
- Melbourne to
Auckland1,683 nm - Melbourne to
Tanjung Priok3,475 nm - Melbourne to
Singapore3,936 nm - Melbourne to
Port Klang4,193 nm - Melbourne to
Manila4,495 nm 
Nhava Sheva to Colombo931 nm- Mundra to Colombo1,265 nm
Karachi to Colombo1,419 nm- Port Klang to Colombo1,420 nm
- Singapore to Colombo1,605 nm
Salalah to Colombo1,838 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.