New York to Dalian shipping route.

Ships leaving New York for Dalian head north and cover a sea distance of 10,753 nautical miles (19,915 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 11,020 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 32.0 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 37.3 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 24.9. Liner schedules on the lane quote 26 to 157 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 60 sailings by 8 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and MSC).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,800 nautical miles, 2,046 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar 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.

Recent freight rates for USNYC to CNDLC start at $6,740 for a 20GP and $8,425 for a 40GP ($8,475 for a 40HC). These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Dalian (CNDLC) carriers give about 6 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, Dalian is the 57th shortest. Closer destinations include Ningbo (10,731 nm), Qingdao (10,690 nm) and Shanghai (10,678 nm).