MAERSK LINE and Hapag-Lloyd have been quick to unveil east-west service plans for their Gemini Cooperation, which officially begins on 1 February 2025 and supersedes the existing Maersk/MSC 2M.
The reveal came one day after MSC announced its suite of services, including new slot-swap deals between Asia and Europe with what will become the Premium Alliance (currently THE Alliance) and between Asia and both coasts of North America with ZIM. It also came as HMM revealed plans to join the trans-Atlantic trade under the Premium banner.
Maersk refers to its new ‘product’ as the Network of the Future, which it says will represent roughly half of its global Ocean network scope, covering the Asia / US West Coast, Asia / US East Coast, Asia / Middle East, Asia / Mediterranean, Asia / North Europe, Middle East – India / Europe and Transatlantic trade scopes.
“It will offer you a best-in-class East-West Ocean network, with an ambition of industry-leading unprecedented reliability, speed to market, and geographical coverage, all while continuing to support decarbonisation and our goal of being net-zero in the future,” Maersk said.
NotF is an innovative network powered by leaner loops with fewer port calls per service, an extensive shuttle network, and industry-leading hubs, the Danish carrier claims. “With the new network, our ambition is to deliver a flexible and well-connected ocean network that aims to provide unmatched and industry-leading reliability above 90% (as measured by SeaIntel) when the new network is fully phased in. We are designing the new East-West network with the ambition of making an unparalleled improvement to schedule reliability.
“With a modular design consisting of shorter routes on both shuttles and mainliners, and more of the connections through controlled hubs, disruptions are easier to absorb the impacts of. APMT hub terminals linking mainliners and shuttles are located as ‘pearls on a string’ on the main route from Asia to Europe. The hubs demonstrate exceptional productivity and reliability, utilising the latest technologies, new and integrated systems reducing the average dwell time i.e. the time the transhipment container is waiting in a hub terminal for on-carriage with up to 20%,” Maersk said.
Hapag-Lloyd was a little less grandiose and a little more cautious, saying that given the ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea it was presenting two network options: a slightly updated Suez Network building on Red Sea routings and an alternative Cape Network “to ensure that we are prepared for all scenarios. Both networks are built around our Gemini Cooperation commitment of industry leading reliability, connectivity and sustainability.”
HLL will not announce its network selection for operations until next month. “Depending on which network option is finally selected to kickstart the Gemini Cooperation, you’ll enjoy 57- 59 services, including efficient mainliners and an extensive shuttle network. With a fleet of 300-340 vessels, we’re set to offer a robust and reliable solution tailored to your needs,” the carrier said.
Meanwhile, the US Federal Maritime Commission said it had reviewed the cooperation agreement, “within the statutory timeframe” and had decided not to seek an injunction against the deal. However, FMC chairman Daniel Maffei said he had “questions and concerns about whether the Gemini Cooperation Agreement filed with the FMC has, or will, result in anti-competitive consequences that violate the Shipping Act,” he said.
Mr Maffei said the law did not give the FMC enough time to further evaluate the agreement and no “viable” way to prevent it from taking effect. Thus “I have joined my colleagues in ordering FMC staff to engage in immediate and ongoing rigorous monitoring of the Gemini Cooperation Agreement to ensure that it doesn’t illegally impact US importers, exporters, covered service providers, and consumers.”
