# Comparative Studies of Major Sea Routes
## 4 Case Study of the Sea Routes between Southeast Asia and Europe Evaluation  
The Port of Shanghai (China) and the Port of Rotterdam (The Netherlands) were selected as the largest ports in Southeast Asia and Europe for a practical evaluation of the major sea routes between Southeast Asia and Europe. Sea routes through the Suez Canal, around the African continent, the sea route through the Panama Canal, and the Northern Sea route were also selected for analysis [38; 39]. The length of the sea route that passes through the Suez Canal is about 10,800 n.m. and goes through the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, and the Northern Sea [18; 19] (Figure 5). When ships sail at an average (commercial) speed of about 14 knots (bulk carriers) or about 17 knots (container ships) [40; 41], and adding the additional waiting time for passage and the sailing time itself through the Suez Canal, the total sailing time for bulk ships is about 33 days, and for container ships about 27 days. Evaluating the capacities of energy devices of bulk cargo and container ships, a bulk cargo ship consumes an average of about 2400 t using petroleum product fuel, while a container ship consumes about 3050 t using petroleum product fuel, on average [42; 43]. According to the available statistical data, the average cost of transportation of one container is around EUR 1500 [44]. At the same time, the Suez Canal has restrictions on ship parameters, which are as follows: ship length up to 450 m, ship width up to 75 m, and ship draft up to 19 m. In this way, G-class container ships currently in operation and under design can use the Suez Canal. The main problem with the Suez Canal is the unstable political situation in the Red Sea and Suez Canal area, for example, and from the end of 2023 until now (middle of 2024), ships and especially container ships avoid sailing through the Suez Canal and mostly choose the sea route around the African continent. In terms of emissions generated by ships [45; 46], a conditional bulk carrier generates about 7700 t of carbon dioxide using petroleum product fuel, or about 5500 t using LNG fuel. A container ship currently generates about 9800 t of carbon dioxide when using petroleum product fuel, or about 7000 t when using LNG fuel [33]. The sea route around the African continent, which is currently chosen by most container and other ships due to the insufficient safety of ships in the Red Sea, is about 3300 miles longer than via the Suez Canal and is about 14,100 nautical miles [18,19] (Figure 6). The sea route around the African continent goes through the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans; the English Channel; and the Northern Sea. Considering the commercial speeds of ships (bulk carriers about 14 knots and container ships about 17 knots, respectively), the sailing time of bulk carriers is about 42 days and the sailing time of container ships is about 35 days. The average energy (fuel) consumption per average bulk cargo per ship is about 2800 t using oil product fuel and the energy (fuel) consumption of an  
Figure 5: Sea route between Shanghai and Rotterdam via Suez Canal. Figure 6: Sea route between Shanghai and Rotterdam around African continent. average container ship is about 4900 t using oil product fuel [42; 43]. The current market price of one container on this sea route is about EUR 2200 [44]. The sea route around the African continent does not have any limitations of ship parameters, but very complex hydro-meteorological conditions are often encountered in the southern part of India (Madagascar island region) and the Atlantic Ocean in the region of the southern tip of Africa. In terms of emissions generated by ships, a conditional bulk carrier generates about 9000 t of carbon dioxide using petroleum product fuel, or about 6500 t using LNG [45; 46]. A container ship currently generates about 15,000 t of carbon dioxide when using petroleum product fuel, or about 11,200 t when using LNG fuel [33].