Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd resume Red Sea and Suez Canal services

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, operating through the Gemini Cooperation alliance, have announced the gradual resumption of container services through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This move follows a period where most shipping companies diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Houthi rebel attacks in the region.

The companies stated that the decision comes after a careful security assessment of the Red Sea area. The resumption involves multiple routes: the AE15 service, which connects Asia, the Mediterranean, and Europe, and the AE19 service, which links Asia, the Mediterranean, Saudi Arabia, and Europe.

These routes are critical for global supply chain efficiency, providing the fastest transit between Asia and Europe. The implementation of these new rotations will begin with specific vessel voyages, such as the Madison Maersk and the Berlin Maersk, incorporating stops in locations including Jeddah, Port Said, and Ningbo.