Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced that their AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 Gemini Cooperation services will transition from the Cape of Good Hope route to the trans-Suez corridor, joining the AE15 and AE19 services that have already resumed canal transits. The changes will roll out progressively starting September 19, when the Antonia Maersk begins the AE11 service’s westbound sailing from Tanjung Pelepas, followed by the Marchen Maersk on AE5 on September 21 and the Cornelia Maersk on ME2 on September 24. AE5 links Asia with Northern Europe, AE11 and AE12 connect Asia with the Mediterranean, and ME2 serves the India-Europe trade, meaning all four strings will now run Suez transits in both directions.
The move marks a significant expansion of the Gemini partners’ gradual return to the Red Sea route after years of diversions around southern Africa following Houthi attacks on commercial shipping that began in late 2023. Maersk said the Suez routing offers the fastest and most efficient path between Asia and Europe, cutting transit times compared with the longer Cape of Good Hope detour, though both carriers stressed that further changes to the network will depend on the region’s security situation not deteriorating. The expansion builds on earlier steps this summer, when the AE15 service resumed Suez transits and added a Jeddah call, and comes even as the broader security picture around the Red Sea remains complicated.
Source: gCaptain
