Piraeus to Bremerhaven shipping route.

Ships leaving Piraeus for Bremerhaven head north west and cover a sea distance of 3,039 nautical miles (5,629 km), on a direct course. The straight line between the ports is 2,082 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar.

Pure steaming time is 9.1 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 10.6 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 7.0. 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 Piraeus and Bremerhaven to plan the full ocean transit time.

2,083 nm of the route, 69% of it, lies inside North 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 Piraeus to Bremerhaven move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Bremerhaven (DEBRV) carriers give about 3.83 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 Piraeus in this directory, Bremerhaven is the 16th shortest. Closer destinations include Rotterdam (2,833 nm), Antwerp (2,813 nm) and London Gateway (2,762 nm).