Savannah to Qingdao shipping route.

The shipping route from Savannah, United States to Qingdao, China covers 10,283 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 12,113 km apart, so the ship sails 1.57 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes 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 30.6 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 35.7 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 23.8. Liner schedules on the lane quote 31 to 62 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 107 sailings by 7 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk).

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,155 nautical miles, 2,872 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal 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.

Recent freight rates for USSAV to CNTAO start at $6,748 for a 20GP and $8,435 for a 40GP ($8,485 for a 40HC). These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Qingdao (CNTAO) carriers give about 6 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, Qingdao is the 51st shortest. Closer destinations include Shanghai (10,271 nm), Incheon (10,237 nm) and Busan (9,802 nm).