The Gemini Cooperation, an alliance between container shipping giants Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, is scheduled to start operating on February 1, 2025, aiming to set the industry benchmark when it comes to service reliability.
HLPFI reported in January 2024 that the long-term operational collaboration agreement would come into effect this year. Gemini will comprise a fleet pool of around 340 vessels and a combined capacity of 3.7 million teu. 57 services will operate as part of a hub and spoke network, broken down into 29 mainliners and 28 inter-regional shuttles.
Hapag-Lloyd parted ways with THE Alliance at end of January 2025. Maersk’s alliance with MSC – the 2M alliance – was also retired in January 2025.
All eyes will be trained on Gemini’s claim of delivering “a fast, flexible and interconnected ocean network with industry-leading reliability of over 90 percent once fully phased in”. Sea-Intelligence published issue 161 of its Global Liner Performance (GLP) report in September 2024, with schedule reliability figures up to and including December 2024. In December 2024, global schedule reliability dropped by -0.9 percentage points month on month to 53.8 percent. Throughout 2024, schedule reliability has largely remained within the 50-55 percent range. On a year-over-year level, schedule reliability was –3 percentage points lower in December 2024
According to Sea-Intelligence, Maersk was the most reliable top 13 carrier in December 2024 with schedule reliability of 60.4 percent.
By June 2025, all vessels are expected to operate according to the new Gemini Cooperation schedule. The Gemini network will re-route via the Cape of Good Hope. The partners said that shall continue to closely monitor the latest developments and their impact on the security situation in the Red Sea and only return to the Red Sea once it is safe to do so. Both carriers have traditionally been receptive to heavy and breakbulk cargo shipments aboard their vessels.
