New York to Busan shipping route.

Ships leaving New York for Busan head north and cover a sea distance of 10,209 nautical miles (18,908 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 11,263 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.

At sea, the voyage lasts 35.4 days at 12 knots, 30.4 days at 14 knots and 23.6 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 New York and Busan to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,715 nautical miles, 2,506 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

522 nm of the route, 5% 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 New York to Busan move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Busan (KRPUS) carriers give about 10 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 New York in this directory, Busan is the 51st shortest. Closer destinations include Singapore (10,184 nm), Melbourne (10,167 nm) and Port Klang (10,000 nm).