German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has announced a new Asia South Europe 5 (SE5) service alongside a series of changes to its Far East–Europe network under the Gemini Cooperation with Maersk. The revised network will be introduced progressively from November 2026.
The new SE5 service is designed to provide direct connections from Central and South China to key Western Mediterranean markets, including Algeciras in Spain and Tangier Med in Morocco. It will also offer onward connections to West Africa through Tangier, strengthening the network’s regional reach.
The service’s planned port rotation is Shanghai – Xiamen – Tanjung Pelepas – Suez Canal – Algeciras – Tangier Med – Algeciras – Suez Canal – Xiamen.
The first vessel, Maersk Edirne on voyage 647W, is scheduled to call at Shanghai on November 22, 2026.
Wider network adjustments
Alongside SE5, Hapag-Lloyd will revise several existing services connecting Asia with Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Changes include new port calls, revised rotations and adjustments to hub connections.
The SE1 service will add Port Said calls and include Colombo in its eastbound rotation. SE2 will replace its westbound Tangier call with Port Said and add a westbound call at Salalah. SE3 will simplify its Mediterranean rotation through Port Said and Damietta, while discontinuing its eastbound Colombo call.
The SE4 service will add Nansha in southern China and remove Shanghai from its rotation. It will also add a westbound call at Damietta. On the Northern Europe route, the NE1 service will remove Tangier and make Rotterdam its first European port of call.
The changes aim to improve connections between Asian export centres, Mediterranean markets and regional transshipment hubs. They form part of the partners’ wider effort to refine their hub-and-spoke network and adjust service patterns as more Gemini services return to the Suez Canal route.
For shippers and freight forwarders, the revised rotations may create new routing options, but cargo planners should review updated vessel schedules and transit times before confirming bookings.