Danish shipping major AP Moller - Maersk (Maersk) and Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd have decided to change the routing of one of their shared services under the Gemini Cooperation, transitioning it through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. All transits will be secured by naval assistance, Maersk said.

This will cut down sailing time by nearly a week compared to transiting through the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa.

For nearly two years, the ships were moving moved through the Cape of Good Hope following the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels that had disrupted activity in this critical maritime lane between Asia and Europe

Red Sea re-opening is only the beginning, said Lars Jensen, a Denmark-based expert in container shipping, commenting on the joint announcement made by the two shipping lines.

The timing has not been set yet, with carriers stating only that the move will come at a later stage, and that further information to customers and other relevant stakeholders will follow in due course. Currently, they do not foresee further changes to the Red Sea passages, he said in a social media message.

“Unless the situation with the Houthis suddenly deteriorates, this is highly likely to signal the beginning of a gradual return for all carriers over the coming months,” he added.

Maersk said that service in scope is the ME11 service, which connects India and the Middle East with the Mediterranean. From mid-February, changes will be implemented on westbound sailings beginning with the vessel Albert Maersk and on eastbound sailings starting with the vessel Astrid Maersk.

When possible, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will also implement changes to the AE12 and AE15 services to go through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal at a later stage.

The highest possible security precautions will be undertaken, as the safety of the crew, the vessels, and the customers’ cargo remains the highest priority of both carriers. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will continue to monitor the security situation in the Middle East region very closely, and any alteration to the Gemini service will remain dependent on the ongoing stability in the Red Sea area and the absence of any escalation in conflicts in the region, Maersk said.

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd launched their operational collaboration “Gemini Cooperation” on February 1, 2025. The cooperation’s network covers 29 shared mainliner and 29 shared shuttle services on East-West trade routes

Hapag-Lloyd said that the adjustment will begin with Westbound sailings on the vessel Albert Maersk (voyage 605W), en route from Jebel Ali to India, departing Mundra on February 4, 2026.

Eastbound sailings as of vessel Astrid Maersk (voyage 605E), departing Valencia, Spain on February 3, 2026.

Routing adjustments for the SE1 and SE3 services may follow at a later stage, where possible. Further updates will be shared in due course. At present, no additional changes to the Gemini Cooperation network related to the Red Sea are expected.

The adjustment will begin with Westbound sailings on the vessel Albert Maersk, en route from Jebel Ali to India, departing Mundra today on February 4, 2026.

The Eastbound sailings of vessel Astrid Maersk, departing Valencia, Spain on February 3, 2026.

J Krishnan of S Natesa Iyer Logistics LLP, a Chennai-based freight forwarder, said transit time reduction is a huge advantage for the Indian supply chain with voyage time to be cut by 10-12 days.

This will also ease freight rate by nearly $200 per twenty-foot equivalent unit to benefit the trade, he said.

Source: The Hindu Business Line 

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