Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to transit Red Sea with one of their shared services

Along with CMA CGM, several other major carriers have resumed services via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have decided to change the routing of one of their shared services under the Gemini Cooperation. From mid-February 2026, a structural change will be implemented to Maersk’s ME11 service, transitioning the service through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The transfer of the ME11 service marks a key milestone, enabling more optimized transit times for customers.

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will continue to closely monitor the security situation in the Middle East region, and any adjustments to the Gemini services will remain dependent on the continued stability in the Red Sea area and the absence of any escalation of conflicts in the region. The safety of the crew, the vessels, and customers’ cargo remains the highest priority; all necessary security measures will be applied for vessels transiting the area. Contingency plans are in place should the security situation deteriorate, which may require certain individual sailings or the overall structural change of the ME11 service to revert to the Cape of Good Hope route.

When conditions allow, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will also implement changes to the AE12 and AE15 services to transit via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal at a later stage. Further details will be communicated to customers and other relevant stakeholders in due course.

For your information-Picture: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd officially launched their operational collaboration, “Gemini Cooperation,” on 1 February 2025. The cooperation’s network comprises 29 shared mainliner services and 29 shared shuttle services across East–West trade routes.

Source: Hapag-Lloyd website & Maersk website