Major Maritime Shipping Routes
Key ocean trade routes with distances, transit times, vessel types and critical chokepoints.
Asia–Europe (Suez)
E–WSingapore / ShanghaiRotterdam / Hamburg
Vessels: Container ships, Tankers
Chokepoints: Strait of Malacca, Suez Canal, Strait of Gibraltar
Distance
12,400 nm
Transit Time
21–24 days
Weekly Services
38
Trans-Pacific (Eastbound)
E–WShanghai / BusanLos Angeles / Long Beach
Vessels: Ultra Large Container Ships (ULCS)
Chokepoints: Strait of Malacca
Distance
6,350 nm
Transit Time
13–15 days
Weekly Services
26
Trans-Pacific (Westbound)
W–ELos Angeles / SeattleYokohama / Shanghai
Vessels: Container ships, Grain carriers
Chokepoints: None
Distance
5,100 nm
Transit Time
12–14 days
Weekly Services
22
Trans-Atlantic
W–ENew York / NorfolkRotterdam / Hamburg
Vessels: Container ships, Ro-Ro, Break bulk
Chokepoints: Strait of Dover
Distance
3,500 nm
Transit Time
8–10 days
Weekly Services
14
Middle East–Asia (Persian Gulf)
W–ERas Tanura / Jebel AliSingapore / Chinese ports
Vessels: VLCCs, Aframax Tankers, LNG Carriers
Chokepoints: Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca
Distance
3,800 nm
Transit Time
10–12 days
Weekly Services
85
Cape of Good Hope (Suez Alternative)
E–WAsiaEurope
Vessels: Container ships (Suez-max bypass), Tankers
Chokepoints: Cape of Good Hope
Distance
15,200 nm
Transit Time
28–32 days
Weekly Services
12
Indian Ocean – East Africa
N–SColombo / SingaporeMombasa / Durban
Vessels: Feeder containers, General cargo, Tankers
Chokepoints: Gulf of Aden (piracy risk)
Distance
4,200 nm
Transit Time
12–14 days
Weekly Services
8
North Atlantic Oil Route
S–NWest Africa / US GulfRotterdam / Trieste
Vessels: VLCCs, Suezmax Tankers
Chokepoints: Strait of Gibraltar, English Channel
Distance
5,600 nm
Transit Time
14–16 days
Weekly Services
48
Panama Canal Route
E–WUS East CoastUS West Coast / Asia
Vessels: Neo-Panamax containers, Tankers, LNG
Chokepoints: Panama Canal
Distance
4,800 nm
Transit Time
11–14 days
Weekly Services
20
North Sea Route (Arctic)
W–EMurmansk / ArkhangelskYokohama / Shanghai
Vessels: Ice-class tankers, LNG carriers
Chokepoints: Kara Strait (seasonal ice)
Distance
7,300 nm
Transit Time
18–22 days
Weekly Services
4