Oakland to Jebel Ali shipping route.

Ships leaving Oakland for Jebel Ali head north and cover a sea distance of 10,939 nautical miles (20,258 km), via Strait of Malacca. The straight line between the ports is 13,021 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Malacca and Strait of Hormuz.

At sea, the voyage lasts 38.0 days at 12 knots, 32.6 days at 14 knots and 25.3 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 Jebel Ali to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Sunda Strait, 11,513 nautical miles, 575 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Sunda Strait is congested or closed.

348 nm of the route, 3% 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 Oakland to Jebel Ali move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Jebel Ali (AEJEA) carriers give about 4 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, Jebel Ali is the 63rd shortest. Closer destinations include Salalah (10,822 nm), Durban (10,657 nm) and Karachi (10,436 nm).