Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will resume their ME11 service via Suez Canal in February, marking a significant return to Red Sea transits after two years.
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will resume routing their Gemini ME11/IMX service through the Suez Canal in mid-February, marking the first time in more than two years that the partnership has transited the Red Sea, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
Maersk stated that the ME11 service connects India and the Middle East with the Mediterranean. Naval escorts will accompany vessels through the Red Sea to guard against Houthi attacks.
The carriers indicated that they may later redirect Gemini's AE12 Asia-Mediterranean and AE15 Asia-Turkey services through the Suez. No further structural changes to the Gemini network are planned.
JP Morgan called the move an industry milestone, noting it could add up to seven percent of effective global fleet capacity. Earlier this year, Maersk rerouted its standalone MECL service via the Suez Canal.
Regional tensions remain high, with a US carrier strike group stationed in the Gulf of Oman amid threats by President Donald Trump to strike Iran. Tehran has vowed to retaliate, raising risks for shipping in the southern Red Sea.
Gemini stated that contingency plans are in place should security deteriorate, which could force sailings back to the Cape of Good Hope route. Carriers warned shippers to review bookings and ensure adequate insurance coverage, as premiums for Red Sea cargo remain prohibitive.
