Seattle to Rotterdam shipping route.

Ships leaving Seattle for Rotterdam head north east and cover a sea distance of 9,042 nautical miles (16,746 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 7,851 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 31.4 days at 12 knots, 26.9 days at 14 knots and 20.9 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 Rotterdam to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 14,504 nautical miles, 5,462 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

1,765 nm of the route, 20% of it, lies inside North American ECA, US Caribbean Sea ECA and North 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 Rotterdam move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Rotterdam (NLRTM) carriers give about 5 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, Rotterdam is the 43rd shortest. Closer destinations include Antwerp (9,023 nm), London Gateway (8,972 nm) and Felixstowe (8,970 nm).