Oakland to Algeciras shipping route.

Oakland to Algeciras is a 7,750 nautical mile shipping route via Panama Canal, heading north east from the United States to Spain. That is 14,353 km of water against 9,538 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar and Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 26.9 days at 12 knots, 23.1 days at 14 knots and 17.9 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 Oakland and Algeciras to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 12,664 nautical miles, 4,914 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar is congested or closed.

618 nm of the route, 8% of it, lies inside North American ECA, US Caribbean Sea ECA and Mediterranean Sea 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 Oakland to Algeciras move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Algeciras (ESALG) 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 Oakland in this directory, Algeciras is the 35th shortest. Closer destinations include Tanjung Priok (7,731 nm), Port Klang (7,722 nm) and Laem Chabang (7,492 nm).