Australia
Sri LankaSydney to Colombo shipping route.
5,365 nautical miles direct, about 16.0 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Sydney and Colombo
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
SydneySeaColomboShipping time from Sydney to Colombo
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| direct (shortest) | 5,365 nm | 18.6 d | 16.0 d | 12.4 d |
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About the Sydney to Colombo shipping route
The shipping route from Sydney, Australia to Colombo, Sri Lanka covers 5,365 nautical miles port to port, on a direct course. On a globe the two ports sit 8,747 km apart, so the ship sails 1.14 times the straight line distance. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.
Pure steaming time is 16.0 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 18.6 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 12.4. 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 Sydney and Colombo to plan the full ocean transit time.
Container freight rates on Sydney to Colombo move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Colombo (LKCMB) 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 65 port to port routes from Sydney in this directory, Colombo is the 22nd shortest. Closer destinations include Dalian (5,042 nm), Incheon (4,942 nm) and Laem Chabang (4,932 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Sydney to Colombo?
The port to port distance from Sydney to Colombo is 5,365 nautical miles (9,935 km), direct.
What is the shipping time from Sydney to Colombo?
About 16.0 days at 14 knots and 12.4 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Colombo to Sydney has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Sydney to Melbourne596 nm
- Sydney to
Auckland1,284 nm - Sydney to
Tanjung Priok3,932 nm - Sydney to
Manila3,938 nm - Sydney to
Singapore4,223 nm - Sydney to
Kaohsiung4,356 nm 
Nhava Sheva to Colombo931 nm- Mundra to Colombo1,265 nm
Karachi to Colombo1,419 nm
Port Klang to Colombo1,420 nm- Singapore to Colombo1,605 nm
Salalah to Colombo1,838 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.