Melbourne to Savannah shipping route.

Ships leaving Melbourne for Savannah head east and cover a sea distance of 9,760 nautical miles (18,075 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 15,813 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Pure steaming time is 29.1 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 33.9 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 22.6. 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 Savannah to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Cape of Good Hope, 12,757 nautical miles, 2,998 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Cape of Good Hope is congested or closed.

377 nm of the route, 4% of it, lies inside North American 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 Melbourne to Savannah move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Savannah (USSAV) carriers give about 4 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, Savannah is the 53rd shortest. Closer destinations include Charleston (9,750 nm), Houston (9,695 nm) and Valencia (9,538 nm).