Seattle to Marsaxlokk shipping route.

The shipping route from Seattle, United States to Marsaxlokk, Malta covers 9,558 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 9,797 km apart, so the ship sails 1.81 times the straight line distance. 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.

At sea, the voyage lasts 33.2 days at 12 knots, 28.5 days at 14 knots and 22.1 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 Seattle and Marsaxlokk to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,189 nautical miles, 3,632 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

2,426 nm of the route, 25% 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 Seattle to Marsaxlokk move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Marsaxlokk (MTMAR) 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, Marsaxlokk is the 50th shortest. Closer destinations include Lagos (Apapa) (9,460 nm), Genoa (9,433 nm) and Gothenburg (9,335 nm).