Ports

Gemini Partners Route Second Asia-Med Service Through Suez Canal

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will reroute their Asia-Med Loop 1 service through the Suez Canal starting next month. This marks the fourth mainline route the Gemini Cooperation partners have shifted from Cape of Good Hope transit. The AE12/SE1 service will begin westbound Red Sea passages in October, with Hapag-Lloyd's 14,500-teu Umm Qarn departing Tanjung Pelepas on October 17. The eastbound inaugural voyage via Suez is scheduled from Algeciras on December 5. The rerouting cuts voyage time by 14 days to 84 days and reduces vessel requirements from 14 to 12 weekly, freeing capacity for network redeployment. All transits will operate under naval protection following security protocols.