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Gemini plays safe with Cape routing

[ October 9, 2024   //   ]

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd say that they will launch their new Gemini service in February 2025 based on the longer routing via the Cape of Good Hope. The partners, when they revealed details of the new service in September, said that they were considering alternative services via the Red Sea and Cape of Good Hope in view of the ongoing disruption in the Red Sea.

Houthi rebels have fired missiles at shipping from land bases in the area, and while international efforts to reduce this threat continue, the threat remains.

According, the Gemini partners announced : “As we get closer to the official start of our cooperation with Maersk, we have jointly decided to phase in the Cape of Good Hope Network in February 2025. The safety and well-being of our seafarers, our vessels and the cargo of our customers are key, and we expect to return to the Red Sea once it is safe again.”

The Gemini Cape Network will comprise 29 mainline services, 28 shuttles, around 340 vessels and a total capacity of 3.7 million TEU, with a hub and spoke pattern with smaller routes and ships feeder larger ones at key hub ports.  

Bookings are expected to start in December.

The rival Premier Alliance, also due to be introduced by Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM and Yang Ming from February 2025, similarly includes Cape and Red Sea alternatives.

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