Hapag-Lloyd announces significant changes to its Far East-Europe service network, including a new SE5 service, starting November 2026.
Hapag-Lloyd is introducing a series of adjustments to its Far East-Europe service network beginning in November 2026. The changes are part of the Gemini Cooperation, the operational partnership between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk. They include launching a new Asia South Europe 5 (SE5) service, revising port rotations, and adding port calls to several existing services.
At the center of the network update is the new SE5 service. It provides fast, direct connections from Central and South China to key Western Mediterranean markets, with calls at Algeciras in Spain and Port Tangier Med in Morocco.
SE5 is designed to deliver competitive transit times to Spain and adjacent Western Mediterranean markets. It also extends cargo connectivity to West Africa via Tangier, giving shippers a direct route to growing markets beyond the Mediterranean.
For cargo owners managing tight delivery commitments, the service strengthens options for direct loading out of Shanghai and Xiamen. For freight forwarders and importers, it adds a routing option into Southern Europe and North Africa, supporting planning for seasonal volumes and new market entry.
The new SE5 service will operate on the following rotation: Shanghai > Xiamen > Tanjung Pelepas > Suez Canal > Algeciras > Port Tangier Med > Algeciras > Suez Canal > Xiamen.
The rotation links two major Chinese export gateways with the Malaysian hub of Tanjung Pelepas before transiting the Suez Canal to the Strait of Gibraltar. With Algeciras and Port Tangier Med on opposite sides of the strait, SE5 links two of the Western Mediterranean's most important gateways in a single loop. This positions the service to serve both Iberian and North African cargo flows, along with onward connections to West Africa.
The first vessel operating under the new SE5 rotation will be: Maersk Edirne V647W, First Port: Shanghai, ETA November 22, 2026.
The adjustments include revised port rotations and additional port calls. Implementation will begin in November 2026. Customers with cargo moving on these services are encouraged to contact their local Hapag-Lloyd sales representative for detailed rotations, cut-off times, and any changes affecting specific bookings.
Since its February 2025 launch, the Gemini Cooperation between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk has focused on a hub-based network designed to improve schedule reliability on East-West trades. The November 2026 changes continue that work. They refine port coverage, add direct connectivity, and extend the Far East-Europe network into Western Mediterranean and West African markets.
