Oakland to Genoa shipping route.

Ships leaving Oakland for Genoa head north east and cover a sea distance of 8,605 nautical miles (15,936 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 9,640 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. 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 29.9 days at 12 knots, 25.6 days at 14 knots and 19.9 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 Genoa to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 13,519 nautical miles, 4,914 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar is congested or closed.

1,473 nm of the route, 17% 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 Genoa move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Genoa (ITGOA) carriers give about 14 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, Genoa is the 48th shortest. Closer destinations include Gothenburg (8,507 nm), Hamburg (8,467 nm) and Bremerhaven (8,420 nm).