Sydney to Savannah shipping route.

Ships leaving Sydney for Savannah head east and cover a sea distance of 9,451 nautical miles (17,504 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 15,188 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 32.8 days at 12 knots, 28.1 days at 14 knots and 21.9 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 Sydney and Savannah to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 12,721 nautical miles, 3,270 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

377 nm of the route, 4% 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 Sydney to Savannah move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Savannah (USSAV) 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 65 port to port routes from Sydney in this directory, Savannah is the 50th shortest. Closer destinations include Charleston (9,442 nm), Houston (9,386 nm) and Marsaxlokk (9,317 nm).