Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are returning four additional Gemini Cooperation services to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, marking another step in the gradual restoration of Asia-Europe container shipping via the shorter Suez route.
The AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 services — known as NE4, SE2, SE1 and IEX respectively in Hapag-Lloyd’s network — will shift from routing around the Cape of Good Hope to transiting the Suez Canal following a further assessment of security conditions in the Red Sea.
The four services will join AE15 and AE19, which have already resumed Suez Canal operations.
The first westbound sailings include Antonia Maersk on AE11 and Cornelia Maersk on ME2, departing their final Asian calls before entering the Suez route on September 19, followed by Marchen Maersk on AE5 on September 21. The first AE12 sailing will be announced separately.
Eastbound implementation is scheduled to begin with Maastricht Maersk on AE5 on September 22, followed by Maersk Halifax on AE11 on September 28 and Cornelia Maersk on ME2 on October 31.
The returning services link major Asian gateways with key Northern European and Mediterranean ports, including London, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Algeciras, Valencia, Barcelona, La Spezia, Genoa, Koper and Rijeka.
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd said the use of the Red Sea and Suez Canal offers shorter and more efficient transit times between Asia and Europe compared with the longer Cape of Good Hope routing.
Both carriers emphasised that further network decisions will continue to depend on security conditions in the region, with the safety of crews, vessels and cargo remaining the primary consideration.
The return of four additional Gemini services marks another step in the recovery of mainline container traffic through the Suez Canal and the gradual restoration of the traditional Asia-Europe maritime corridor.