Container lines Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk have signed a long-term operational collaboration agreement, which will start in February 2025 and comprise a fleet pool of around 290 vessels.
Named the Gemini Cooperation, the pool will have a combined capacity of 3.4 million containers (teu), with Maersk deploying 60 percent and Hapag-Lloyd 40 percent. As a consequence, Hapag-Lloyd will leave THE Alliance at end of January 2025. Maersk previously announced that its alliance with MSC – the 2M alliance – will be retired in January 2025.
At that time, Maersk said that it recognised that “much has changed since the two companies signed the 10-year agreement in 2015. Discontinuing the 2M alliance paves the way for both companies to continue to pursue their individual strategies”. According to industry analyst Drewry, the MSC and Maersk had been on different growth paths for some time; MSC has been more active in the second-hand and charter markets, as well as splurging on new orders, while Maersk focused on its vertical integration strategy.
Commenting on the establishment of the Gemini Cooperation Rolf Habben Jansen, ceo of Hapag-Lloyd, said: “Teaming up with Maersk will help us to further boost the quality we deliver to our customers. Additionally, we will benefit from efficiency gains in our operations and joint efforts to further accelerate the decarbonisation of our industry.” Maersk is aiming for net-zero in 2040 and Hapag-Lloyd in 2045.
