United StatesUnited StatesSeattle to New York shipping route.
6,212 nautical miles via Panama Canal, about 18.5 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Seattle and New York
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
SeattlePanama CanalNew YorkShipping time from Seattle to New York
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Panama Canal (shortest) | 6,212 nm | 21.6 d | 18.5 d | 14.4 d |
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About the Seattle to New York shipping route
The shipping route from Seattle, United States to New York, United States covers 6,212 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 3,865 km apart, so the ship sails 2.98 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 18.5 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 21.6 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 14.4. 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 New York to plan the full ocean transit time.
1,789 nm of the route, 29% 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 Seattle to New York move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At New York (USNYC) carriers give about 4 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, New York is the 23rd shortest. Closer destinations include Manila (6,078 nm), Yantian (5,821 nm) and Hong Kong (5,821 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Seattle to New York?
The port to port distance from Seattle to New York is 6,212 nautical miles (11,505 km), via Panama Canal. The route passes Panama Canal.
What is the shipping time from Seattle to New York?
About 18.5 days at 14 knots and 14.4 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
How much of the route is in an emission control area?
1,789 nm sit inside ECA waters (North American ECA), where ships burn 0.1% sulphur fuel.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route New York to Seattle has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Seattle to Oakland879 nm
- Seattle to Los Angeles1,214 nm
- Seattle to
Manzanillo2,498 nm - Seattle to
Balboa4,188 nm - Seattle to
Yokohama4,300 nm - Seattle to Tokyo4,311 nm
- Charleston to New York644 nm
- Savannah to New York699 nm
Montreal to New York1,524 nm- Houston to New York1,921 nm
- Balboa to New York2,025 nm
Cartagena to New York2,235 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.