Vancouver to Marsaxlokk shipping route.

Ships leaving Vancouver for Marsaxlokk head north east and cover a sea distance of 9,579 nautical miles (17,741 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 9,671 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar and Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Pure steaming time is 28.5 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 33.3 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 22.2. 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 Vancouver and Marsaxlokk to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,211 nautical miles, 3,632 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Suez Canal is congested or closed.

2,447 nm of the route, 26% of it, lies inside North American ECA, US Caribbean Sea ECA and Mediterranean 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 Vancouver to Marsaxlokk move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Marsaxlokk (MTMAR) 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 Vancouver in this directory, Marsaxlokk is the 50th shortest. Closer destinations include Lagos (Apapa) (9,482 nm), Genoa (9,455 nm) and Gothenburg (9,357 nm).