Piraeus to Oakland shipping route.

Ships leaving Piraeus for Oakland head north west and cover a sea distance of 9,177 nautical miles (16,996 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 10,894 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.

Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 27.3 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 31.9 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 21.2. 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 Oakland to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,105 nautical miles, 3,928 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

2,041 nm of the route, 22% 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 Piraeus to Oakland move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Oakland (USOAK) 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 Piraeus in this directory, Oakland is the 62nd shortest. Closer destinations include Sydney (8,962 nm), Los Angeles (8,792 nm) and Tokyo (8,615 nm).