Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have decided to route one service under their Gemini cooperation through the Red Sea, marking a cautious adjustment to network planning as security conditions in the region show signs of stabilising.
The move applies to a single Gemini service, while the majority of services under the alliance will continue to avoid the Red Sea and transit via the Cape of Good Hope, industry sources said. The selective routing reflects carriers’ efforts to balance transit time savings with operational and security risks.
Shipping analysts noted that reintroducing a Red Sea passage on a limited basis allows the partners to test operational feasibility, reduce voyage duration on specific loops, and improve schedule reliability without committing the entire network to the route.
Carriers have largely bypassed the Red Sea over the past year due to geopolitical tensions and security concerns, leading to longer transit times and higher fuel costs. A partial return could help ease cost pressures, particularly on Asia–Europe trade lanes, if conditions continue to improve.