Strait of Gibraltar
StraitSpain · Morocco · Gibraltar (UK)
The Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from Morocco and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. About 58 km long, it narrows to roughly 13 km between the two continents.
Why the Strait of Gibraltar matters
Every vessel entering or leaving the Mediterranean from the Atlantic — including all Asia–North Europe services routed via Suez — passes the Strait of Gibraltar. Its shores host two of the region’s major transshipment hubs, Algeciras in Spain and Tanger Med in Morocco, which relay containers between deep-sea services and regional feeders. Dense crossing ferry traffic and strong currents make it one of the most closely monitored waterways in the world.
Safecube gives you door-to-door visibility on container shipments, with live vessel positions and predictive ETAs on every trade lane.
Major shipping routes via the Strait of Gibraltar
1204 of our covered port-to-port routes transit the Strait of Gibraltar. The most significant ones, ranked by carrier coverage at both ends:
| Route | Distance |
|---|---|
| Shanghai Hamburg | 10,842 nm |
| Shanghai Antwerpen | 10,569 nm |
| Hamburg Qingdao | 11,106 nm |
| Hamburg Hong Kong | 10,067 nm |
| Antwerpen Qingdao | 10,834 nm |
| Hamburg Ningbo | 10,728 nm |
| Antwerpen Hong Kong | 9,795 nm |
| Hamburg Singapore | 8,634 nm |
| Hamburg Kaohsiung | 10,304 nm |
| Antwerpen Ningbo | 10,456 nm |
| Shanghai Felixstowe | 10,517 nm |
| Antwerpen Singapore | 8,362 nm |
| Antwerpen Kaohsiung | 10,031 nm |
| Hamburg Bangkok | 9,449 nm |
| Hamburg Xiamen | 10,292 nm |
Frequently asked questions
What does the Strait of Gibraltar connect?
The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Bordering countries: Spain, Morocco, Gibraltar (UK).
How many shipping routes use the Strait of Gibraltar?
Among the 4950 port-to-port routes covered by Seadex, 1204 transit the Strait of Gibraltar.
Why is the Strait of Gibraltar strategically important?
Every vessel entering or leaving the Mediterranean from the Atlantic — including all Asia–North Europe services routed via Suez — passes the Strait of Gibraltar. Its shores host two of the region’s major transshipment hubs, Algeciras in Spain and Tanger Med in Morocco, which relay containers between deep-sea services and regional feeders. Dense crossing ferry traffic and strong currents make it one of the most closely monitored waterways in the world.