Estimate the elapsed time for a ocean freight movement by combining route distance, average operating speed, terminal handling, and a planning buffer. The result separates movement time from non-travel time, making assumptions visible when comparing routes or promised delivery windows. This is a schedule-planning estimate, not a carrier commitment; actual arrival can change with routing, congestion, weather, cutoffs, and inspections.
Movement days = Route distance ÷ Average speed ÷ 24
Estimated transit days = Movement days + Origin handling + Destination handling + Buffer
The main result is the total planning duration from the start of origin handling through destination handling. Movement and handling are shown separately so you can see which assumption drives the schedule.
Estimated port-to-port schedule. Add inland pickup or final delivery time separately if those legs are outside the entered handling periods.
With 10,000 nautical miles, 17 knots, 2 origin days, 3 destination days, and a 1-day buffer:
24.51 + 2 + 3 + 1 = 30.51 days
Yes. The origin and destination handling inputs are added to movement time and contingency buffer.
Use nautical miles only. The speed input uses the matching distance unit per hour.
Add expected clearance time to the destination handling input, or include unusually uncertain time in the contingency buffer.
Weather, congestion, routing, cutoffs, inspections, and schedule changes can add time that a simple planning estimate cannot predict.
Yes. Zero is accepted when you intentionally want a pure movement-time estimate or no added contingency.
| Variable | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Route distance | Distance traveled by the main transport mode | nautical miles |
| Average speed | Average movement speed across the entered route | knots |
| Handling | Origin plus destination non-movement time | days |
| Buffer | Additional planning contingency | days |