HAPAG-LLOYD and Maersk have joined forces on a long-term collaboration starting in February 2025.

The so-called Gemini Cooperation partnership would comprise a fleet pool of around 290 vessels with a combined capacity of 3.4 million TEU. Maersk would deploy 60% and Hapag-Lloyd 40%.

As a consequence of joining partnership, Hapag-Lloyd will leave THE Alliance at the end of January 2025. Maersk and MSC announced in January 2023 that the 2M alliance would end in January 2025.

During 2024, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd intend to plan the transition from their current alliances to the new operational co-operation.

As a part of the agreement, the two companies have outlined a target of achieving schedule reliability of above 90% once the network is fully phased in.

The companies also anticipate improved transit times in many major port-to-port corridors and access to well-connected ocean hubs.

“Teaming up with Maersk will help us to further boost the quality we deliver to our customers,” Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said.

“Additionally, we will benefit from efficiency gains in our operations and joint efforts to further accelerate the decarbonisation of our industry.”

Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said Hapag-Lloyd was the “ideal ocean partner” on Maersk’s strategic journey.

“By entering this cooperation, we will be offering our customers a flexible ocean network that will be raising the bar for reliability in the industry,” he said.

“This will strengthen our integrated logistics offering and meet our customers’ needs.”

The co-operation would cover seven trades, namely Asia/US West Coast, Asia/US East Coast, Asia/Middle East, Asia/Mediterranean, Asia/North Europe, Middle East – India/Europe and trans-Atlantic.

Gemini Cooperation would comprise of 26 mainline services. The mainline ocean services will be complemented by a global network of dedicated shuttles centred around owned and/ or controlled transhipment hubs – thereof 14 shuttle services in Europe, four in the Middle East, 13 in Asia and one in the Gulf of Mexico.

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd plan to announce more details about the Gemini Cooperation, including the new vessel schedules – in due course.

Both companies plan to provide dedicated operational teams to manage the collaboration.