Seattle to Dalian shipping route.

Ships leaving Seattle for Dalian head north west and cover a sea distance of 5,219 nautical miles (9,665 km), on a direct course. The straight line between the ports is 8,504 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.

Pure steaming time is 15.5 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 18.1 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 12.1. Liner schedules on the lane quote 16 to 37 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 38 sailings by 3 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO and MSC).

548 nm of the route, 11% 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 USSEA to CNDLC start at $5,881 for a 20GP and $8,146 for a 40GP. These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Dalian (CNDLC) 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 Seattle in this directory, Dalian is the 14th shortest. Closer destinations include Ningbo (5,196 nm), Qingdao (5,156 nm) and Shanghai (5,144 nm).