Savannah to Melbourne shipping route.

Ships leaving Savannah for Melbourne head west and cover a sea distance of 9,760 nautical miles (18,075 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 15,813 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 33.9 days at 12 knots, 29.1 days at 14 knots and 22.6 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 Savannah and Melbourne to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Cape of Good Hope, 12,757 nautical miles, 2,998 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Cape of Good Hope is congested or closed.

377 nm of the route, 4% 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 Savannah to Melbourne move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Melbourne (AUMEL) carriers give about 8 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 64 port to port routes from Savannah in this directory, Melbourne is the 47th shortest. Closer destinations include Sydney (9,451 nm), Tokyo (9,438 nm) and Yokohama (9,427 nm).