Mersin to Los Angeles shipping route.

Mersin to Los Angeles is a 9,328 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north west from Türkiye to the United States. That is 17,275 km of water against 11,687 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 32.4 days at 12 knots, 27.8 days at 14 knots and 21.6 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 Mersin and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,214 nautical miles, 3,886 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

2,196 nm of the route, 24% 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 Mersin to Los Angeles move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Los Angeles (USLAX) 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 Mersin in this directory, Los Angeles is the 61st shortest. Closer destinations include Sydney (8,737 nm), Tokyo (8,389 nm) and Yokohama (8,378 nm).