In a significant development within the global container shipping industry, two major players—Denmark's Maersk A/S and Germany's Hapag-Lloyd AG—will begin operational collaboration, known as Gemini Cooperation, on February 1. Both companies have a strong presence in India.

Following the announcement of Gemini Cooperation in January 2024, Hapag-Lloyd exited THE Alliance. In January 2023, Maersk and MSC announced that the 2M alliance would commence in January 2025.

Under the Gemini Cooperation, approximately 340 vessels will join Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd's shared ocean network, comprising 60% from Maersk and 40% from Hapag-Lloyd. The first sailing will commence on February 1, with additional vessels gradually integrated into the new schedules. The inaugural boat will depart from Tokyo to Shanghai, while the first call in India will be at the Adani Katupalli terminal in Ennore, North Chennai, on February 8, according to a company official.

"We are now ready to initiate the phase-in of the new network. Over the past year, we have meticulously planned this to ensure a smooth transition for all our customers. With its innovative design, we believe our customers will benefit from increased reliability, flexibility, and more competitive offerings," stated Johan Sigsgaard, Chief Product Officer of Ocean at Maersk.

The transition period is expected to last until late May. During this time, vessels will be integrated into the new network while exiting expiring agreements that Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have with other carriers. June will mark the first month all ships will operate under the Gemini schedule.

The shared network of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will cover East-West trades and consist of 29 ocean mainliner services supported by 28 intraregional shuttle services. Hapag-Lloyd anticipates that by June 2025, all vessels will operate according to the new schedule. Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, remarked, "Together with our operating partner Maersk, we are committed to delivering on our 90 per cent schedule reliability promise."

As announced in October 2024, the Gemini network will be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope due to the geopolitical crisis affecting movement in the Red Sea.

Advantages for India

The rollout of the new Gemini network will significantly benefit India, particularly on the India-Europe trade routes, which will see an additional 4-5 per cent capacity. Key advantages include:

- Three dedicated European services from India cover the Mundra, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Ennore ports.

- Improved access to significant markets: Rotterdam, London Gateway, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven.

- Enhanced speed-to-market to Spain and Italy through Port Tangier and Algeciras hubs.

- Eastern Mediterranean services are available via the shuttle network through Port Said.

- Opportunities for growth in retail, lifestyle, automotive, and refrigerated goods sectors.

Key Facts about the Gemini Cooperation Network

Hub & spoke network / 57 services / 3.7 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity / Approximately 340 vessels / 29 mainliners / 28 inter-regional shuttles (Europe: 13; Asia: 10; Middle East: 4; Americas: 1)