Kenya
United StatesMombasa to Los Angeles shipping route.
11,896 nautical miles via Strait of Malacca, about 35.4 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Mombasa and Los Angeles
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
MombasaStrait of MalaccaLos AngelesShipping time from Mombasa to Los Angeles
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Strait of Malacca (shortest) | 11,896 nm | 41.3 d | 35.4 d | 27.5 d |
| via Panama Canal | 12,028 nm | 41.8 d | 35.8 d | 27.8 d |
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About the Mombasa to Los Angeles shipping route
Mombasa to Los Angeles is a 11,896 nautical mile shipping route via Strait of Malacca, heading north west from Kenya to the United States. That is 22,032 km of water against 16,005 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Malacca.
Pure steaming time is 35.4 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 41.3 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 27.5. 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 Mombasa and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.
The next option is via Panama Canal, 12,028 nautical miles, 132 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Cape of Good Hope is congested or closed.
683 nm of the route, 6% 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 Mombasa 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 Mombasa in this directory, Los Angeles is the 65th shortest. Closer destinations include Oakland (11,562 nm), Vancouver (11,312 nm) and Seattle (11,291 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Mombasa to Los Angeles?
The port to port distance from Mombasa to Los Angeles is 11,896 nautical miles (22,032 km), via Strait of Malacca. The route passes Strait of Malacca.
What is the shipping time from Mombasa to Los Angeles?
About 35.4 days at 14 knots and 27.5 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
How much of the route is in an emission control area?
683 nm sit inside ECA waters (North American ECA), where ships burn 0.1% sulphur fuel.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Los Angeles to Mombasa has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Mombasa to
Salalah1,590 nm - Mombasa to
Durban1,759 nm - Mombasa to
Djibouti1,805 nm - Mombasa to
Karachi2,411 nm - Mombasa to
Jeddah2,417 nm - Mombasa to
Nhava Sheva2,462 nm - Oakland to Los Angeles385 nm
- Seattle to Los Angeles1,214 nm
Vancouver to Los Angeles1,235 nm
Manzanillo to Los Angeles1,284 nm
Balboa to Los Angeles2,974 nm
Cartagena to Los Angeles3,301 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.