Dernière mise à jour : 22 octobre 2026

“How long will it take?” is the first question everyone asks about sea freight. The answer depends on the route, the shipping line’s rotation, how many ports the ship calls at, and events like canal closures. Here are typical sea freight transit times from the UK in 2026, and the factors that add or save time.

UK sea freight transit times (port to port)

Indicative times only. Your forwarder will give you the schedule for your specific sailing.

Door-to-door time

Port-to-port time is only part of the journey. For a full picture, add:

• Collection and export customs: 2 à 7 jours
• Waiting for the vessel cut-off and sailing: up to a week
• Destination port handling and customs: 3–10 days
• Inland delivery: 1–5 days

For example, a UK to Australia removal usually takes 8–12 weeks door to door, even though the ship is at sea for 5–7 weeks. See our Guide du déménagement international.

What causes delays?

1. Route diversions. When Red Sea routes are unsafe, Asia and Middle East services go around the Cape of Good Hope, adding around 1–2 weeks.
2. Canal restrictions. Panama Canal draught limits in drought years can reduce bookings and add waiting time.
3. Port congestion, especially around peak seasons and holidays such as Chinese New Year
4. Weather, including Atlantic storms, typhoons and winter ice
5. Blank sailings, when a line cancels a scheduled departure
6. Customs inspections, which are random or triggered by paperwork errors
7. Transhipment, when a container changes ships at a hub

How to speed things up

• Book early and confirm the vessel cut-off date
• Choose direct services over transhipment where possible
• Prepare complete paperwork, including the commercial invoice, packing list and HS codes
• Choose FCL (a full container) over LCL (shared) if timing is critical
• Use a forwarder with strong agents at destination

See our Guide du fret maritime au départ du Royaume-Uni for more.

Travelling the same routes as a passenger

The ships that carry your freight also carry a few passengers on many routes. If you have ever wondered what a 6-week Europe–Australia voyage feels like, read expédier d'Angleterre en Australie.

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