Montreal to Seattle shipping route.

Ships leaving Montreal for Seattle head west and cover a sea distance of 7,521 nautical miles (13,929 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 3,675 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 22.4 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 26.1 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 17.4. 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 Seattle to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 14,837 nautical miles, 7,315 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

2,730 nm of the route, 36% 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 Seattle move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Seattle (USSEA) carriers give about 3.94 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, Seattle is the 35th shortest. Closer destinations include Cape Town (7,332 nm), Salalah (7,243 nm) and Buenos Aires (6,720 nm).