Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd said that the Gemini Cooperation officially launched its operation at the port on February 10 with the lifting of the first container.

According to Hapag-Lloyd's official website, the Gemini Cooperation, a benchmark collaboration between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, was announced last year to start operating in February.

"The Shanghai Port was chosen as one of the core hub ports of the Gemini Cooperation because of its world-class efficiency in port operation, digital capabilities and our firm confidence in the Chinese market," Anne-Sophie Zerlang Karlsen, head of Asia-Pacific operations with AP Moller–Maersk, said at the launch ceremony. 

Being the world's busiest container port, the Shanghai Port handled 51.51 million TEUs throughout 2024, holding the top position for 15 consecutive years by container throughput globally.

Gemini Cooperation took the third phase of Shanghai Port's Yangshan Deep-Water Port as its central terminal for calling China.

With the goal of delivering a fast, flexible, and interconnected ocean network with industry-leading reliability as its cornerstone, Gemini Cooperation will cover seven trades and offer 57 services, including mainliner and dedicated shuttle services, complemented by feeder services.

According to Hapag-Lloyd, the new partnership's fleet will consist of around 340 modern and efficient vessels, many ready to adopt cleaner fuels, with a total standing capacity of about 3.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).