Container operators Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have announced the formation of Gemini Cooperation, which will see the operator’s pool their services.
Combined, the fleet will consist of 290 vessels, with around 3.4 million TEU slots, split 60/40 between the Danish based and German-based partners.
Maersk announced during last year that it would be splitting from its current partner, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) in the 2M service, in January 2025.
The news means Hapag-Lloyd will leave THE Alliance, which was formed in 2016. The Hamburg-headquartered company is currently the largest partner in the alliance, with Korean HMM, Japanese-backed Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Taiwanese based Yang Ming the other members of the agreement.
The Gemini Cooperation will begin services in February 2025, and cover seven trades; Asia to US West Coast (Transpacific), Asia to US East Coast, Asia to Middle East, Asia to Mediterranean, Asia to Northern Europe, Middle East/India to Europe and US East Coast (Transatlantic).
The cooperation will comprise 24 mainline services, complemented by a global feeder network, operating from transshipment hubs. Within Europe, 14 shuttle services will operate, four in the Middle East, 13 in Asia and one in the Gulf of Mexico.
Report and photo by Krispen Atkinson
