Seattle to Santos shipping route.

Ships leaving Seattle for Santos head south east and cover a sea distance of 8,782 nautical miles (16,264 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 10,974 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 30.5 days at 12 knots, 26.1 days at 14 knots and 20.3 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 Santos to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 9,238 nautical miles, 457 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

1,267 nm of the route, 14% 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 Santos move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Santos (BRSSZ) 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, Santos is the 37th shortest. Closer destinations include Colombo (8,770 nm), Buenos Aires (8,658 nm) and Algeciras (8,578 nm).