Montreal to Los Angeles shipping route.

Montreal to Los Angeles is a 6,307 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading west from Canada to the United States. That is 11,681 km of water against 3,991 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 21.9 days at 12 knots, 18.8 days at 14 knots and 14.6 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 Montreal and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 13,681 nautical miles, 7,374 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

1,516 nm of the route, 24% 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 Montreal 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 Montreal in this directory, Los Angeles is the 29th shortest. Closer destinations include Jeddah (5,922 nm), Santos (5,830 nm) and Lagos (Apapa) (5,277 nm).