Gemini Launches Suez Service and Targets Full Return in 2027
Gemini announced the launch of its Asia-Mediterranean service via the Suez Canal starting November 22, with 'all' of its services expected to return to the route during the first quarter of 2027.
The Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced the launch of a new service between China and the Western Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, scheduled to start on November 22, according to The Loadstar.
The service, named AE18/SE5, begins with the voyage of the 13,100 TEU vessel Maersk Edirne from Shanghai, with a rotation including the ports of Xiamen and Tanjung Pelepas, followed by Algeciras and Tangier before returning.
The adjustments also include changes to the AE2, AE11, AE12, and AE19 services, while the company expects almost 'all' of its services to return to transiting the Suez Canal during the first quarter of 2027.
Analyst Lars Jensen estimated that the market has normalized by 30% to 35%, meaning a significant portion of shipping traffic has not yet resumed its traditional route through the Red Sea.
What Do These Terms Mean?
Suez Canal: An Egyptian waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, shortening shipping trips between Asia and Europe instead of sailing around Africa.
Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU): A unit of measurement equivalent to a 20-foot container, used to estimate vessel capacity and cargo volume.
Vessel Rotation: The sequence of ports a vessel visits on a single voyage before returning to the starting point.
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