Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd Accelerate Return to Suez Canal Amid Red Sea Risks

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are expanding the number of Gemini Cooperation services operating through the Suez Canal, amid continued uncertainty over the security situation in the Red Sea. The move reflects the carriers’ ongoing, gradual adjustments to their Asia–Europe service network, while maintaining safety as a key condition for routes through the region.

Expanding Services via the Suez Canal

According to the latest announcement, Gemini will return four additional services - AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 - to the Suez Canal route. These will join AE15 and AE19, which have already returned to the corridor.

The services include:

●    AE5, connecting Asia with Northern Europe;

●    AE11 and AE12, connecting Asia with the Mediterranean;

●    ME2, connecting the Indian subcontinent with Europe.

All four services will operate through the Suez Canal in both directions, rather than continuing to route around the Cape of Good Hope.

The first westbound voyages are expected to begin in late September. Antonia Maersk is scheduled to operate the AE11 service from Tanjung Pelepas on 19 September, followed by Marchen Maersk on AE5 on 21 September and Cornelia Maersk on ME2 on 24 September. The first AE12 voyage will be introduced at a later date.

Maersk said routing through the Suez Canal would shorten transit times compared with voyages around the Cape of Good Hope.

Maersk said: “The route through the Suez and the Red Sea is the fastest, most sustainable and most efficient way to serve customers with transport between Asia and Europe.”

According to the carrier, the return of additional services to Suez is part of an ongoing network adjustment aimed at optimizing the Asia–Europe routing, while security conditions continue to be closely monitored.

Red Sea Security Remains a Key Consideration

The expansion of services through Suez follows several earlier adjustments by Gemini.

During the summer, AE15 returned to operations via the Suez Canal and Jeddah. In addition, Maersk’s independently operated MECL service, connecting India, the Middle East and the US East Coast, also returned to the region.

However, security conditions in the Red Sea and around Bab el-Mandeb remain an important factor in carriers’ routing decisions.

Houthi activities in Yemen’s Red Sea coastal area continue to increase risks for commercial vessels transiting one of the key maritime chokepoints on the Asia–Europe trade. At the same time, with maritime activity in the Middle East also affected by developments around the Strait of Hormuz, carriers must weigh safety, transit times and operational efficiency when selecting routes.

Since late 2023, attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have prompted most major container carriers to divert around the Cape of Good Hope. Avoiding the Suez Canal has significantly extended transit times between Asia and Europe while reducing vessel traffic through the waterway.

Gemini’s gradual return of additional services to Suez could therefore alter the distribution of shipping capacity, transit times and service-network structures on the Asia–Europe trade. However, the scale and pace of these adjustments will continue to depend on actual security developments in the Red Sea.

Safety Remains a Prerequisite

Although Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are expanding the number of services operating via Suez, both carriers have emphasized that the resumption of services does not mean security risks have been eliminated.

The carriers continue to monitor conditions in the Red Sea and have said the Gemini network may be adjusted if the security environment changes or new escalation risks emerge.

Maersk emphasized: “The safety of the crew, the vessels, and customers’ cargo remains the highest priority.”

Accordingly, the safety of crews, vessels and customers’ cargo remains the top priority. The choice between routing through Suez and sailing around the Cape of Good Hope will continue to depend on the risk assessment at any given time.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to gCaptain)

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