Piraeus to Seattle shipping route.

Ships leaving Piraeus for Seattle head north and cover a sea distance of 10,006 nautical miles (18,531 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 9,922 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.

Pure steaming time is 29.8 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 34.7 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 23.2. 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 Seattle to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 12,834 nautical miles, 2,828 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

2,869 nm of the route, 29% 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 Seattle move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Seattle (USSEA) carriers give about 3.94 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, Seattle is the 63rd shortest. Closer destinations include Oakland (9,177 nm), Sydney (8,962 nm) and Los Angeles (8,792 nm).