SEA DISTANCE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND CHARTERERS
Shanghai to New York by sea
The sea distance from Shanghai to New York is 10,669 nautical miles via the Panama Canal, about 32 days at 14 knots. Without the Panama Canal it is 12,387 nm via the Suez Canal, 1,717 nm more. The straight line across the globe is only 6,384 nm, but ships cannot sail over land.
Days at sea
Time under way only: add port, canal and anchorage time to plan the ETA.
| Speed | Days at sea | Via the Suez Canal |
|---|---|---|
| 10 knots | 44 | 52 |
| 12 knots | 37 | 43 |
| 14 knots | 32 | 37 |
| 16 knots | 28 | 32 |
| 20 knots | 22 | 26 |
Canals and straits on the way
In the order the ship meets them: Tsugaru Strait → Panama Canal → Windward Passage.
Zones on the route
Miles of this voyage inside each area, measured on the planned route.
| Area | Type | Miles inside |
|---|---|---|
| N. American ECA (Atlantic/Gulf) | Emission Control Area | 577 nm |
| N. American ECA (Pacific) | Emission Control Area | 117 nm |
| China DECA (coastal waters) | Emission Control Area | 64 nm |
| Wider Caribbean (MARPOL Annex V Special Area) | MARPOL Special Area | 1,178 nm |
Emission Control Areas: the ECA guide. Piracy and war-risk areas: the piracy map.
Questions about Shanghai to New York
How far is Shanghai from New York by sea?
10,669 nautical miles (19,760 km) via the Panama Canal, pilot station to pilot station, on real shipping lanes. The straight line across the globe is 6,384 nm, but a ship cannot sail over land, so the sea route is 67% longer.
How many days does a ship take from Shanghai to New York?
About 37 days at 12 knots, 32 days at 14 knots or 22 days at 20 knots. That is time at sea only, with no port, canal or anchorage waiting.
How much longer is Shanghai to New York without the Panama Canal?
12,387 nm via the Suez Canal, 1,717 nm more: about 5.1 extra days at 14 knots.
Which canals and straits are on the route from Shanghai to New York?
In order: Tsugaru Strait, Panama Canal and Windward Passage.
How many miles of the voyage are inside Emission Control Areas?
758 nm, in N. American ECA (Atlantic/Gulf), N. American ECA (Pacific) and China DECA (coastal waters). Inside an ECA the fuel must carry no more than 0.10% sulphur, unless the ship uses an approved alternative such as a scrubber.
Does the route from Shanghai to New York pass through piracy or war-risk areas?
Not on this route as of the date on this page: it crosses no ITF/IBF warlike area, JWC listed area or piracy hotspot that NaviBoss draws.
Which NAVAREAs does the voyage pass through?
NAVAREA XI, NAVAREA XIII, NAVAREA XII and NAVAREA IV. Keep the in-force navigational warnings of each.
How this distance is worked out
NaviBoss routes on a network of professional shipping lanes that keeps right through traffic separation schemes. The distance runs from the pilot boarding place at Shanghai (Baoshan Anchorage pilot exchange (inbound)) to the one at New York (New York Harbor), the same figure the planner gives for the two ports. Distances are great-circle nautical miles along that network. Seasonal Arctic routes are left out.
The same voyage the other way, New York to Shanghai, is the same distance.
More sea distances
- Rotterdam to Shanghai10,594 nm
- Hamburg to Shanghai10,873 nm
- Shanghai to Los Angeles5,741 nm
- Vancouver to Shanghai5,021 nm
- Singapore to New York10,208 nm
- Shanghai to Houston10,238 nm
- All sea distances
Plan it with your own ship
Open the planner, pick Shanghai and New York, set your speed and departure: you get the ETA, every waypoint and the route file for your ECDIS. Free with an account.
Plan this voyage →About our guides
NaviBoss guides are written and checked by maritime industry experts, masters and deck officers. Each one is built from the same data the planner uses, dated, and rebuilt when that data changes. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.
A planning aid, not for navigation. Check official charts and publications, the latest notices and your company's instructions before you rely on any figure here.