Sejlruter

Sejlruter, or sejlruter, is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to denote sea routes or shipping lanes—networks of navigational corridors used by ships to move between ports. The term combines sejl/ sejl meaning sail, and ruter meaning routes or itineraries.

Sea routes are planned to optimize safety, speed, and costs. They are organized into main routes, feeder lines, and port approaches and are often regulated by international bodies. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and national authorities establish Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) and recommended routes to manage vessel traffic, avoid collisions, and protect sensitive areas.

Navigation relies on marine charts, the Automatic Identification System (AIS), and vessel traffic services (VTS). Modern planning also incorporates weather, currents, seasonal ice, piracy risk, and environmental concerns.

Globally important sea routes include the Suez Canal route connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, the Panama Canal route linking the Atlantic and Pacific, the Cape of Good Hope route around Africa, and the busy chokepoints in the Strait of Malacca, the English Channel, and the Bab el-Mandeb. The Northern Sea Route, along the Arctic coast of Russia, has gained attention in recent decades due to retreating ice.

Historically, the development of extensive shipping routes followed canal openings and improvements in navigation technology, such as lighthouses and standardized charts. Today, sejlruter underpin international trade, supply chains, and maritime logistics.