Yokohama to Charleston shipping route.

Ships leaving Yokohama for Charleston head north east and cover a sea distance of 9,418 nautical miles (17,441 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 11,381 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.

Pure steaming time is 28.0 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 32.7 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 21.8. 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 Yokohama and Charleston to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Suez Canal, 13,563 nautical miles, 4,146 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Gibraltar is congested or closed.

367 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 Yokohama to Charleston move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Charleston (USCHS) 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 64 port to port routes from Yokohama in this directory, Charleston is the 45th shortest. Closer destinations include Houston (9,362 nm), Marsaxlokk (8,959 nm) and Piraeus (8,604 nm).