Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd resume Suez Canal service

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have resumed the AE19 container service via the Suez Canal, connecting Asia, the Mediterranean, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. This move marks a gradual return to the route after shipping companies previously diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope due to security concerns in the Red Sea.

The AE19 service, operated under the Gemini Cooperation, is expected to save approximately four weeks of travel time compared to the route around Africa. Hapag-Lloyd noted that this is a specific adjustment for a selected service rather than a widespread return of its entire network, stating that future decisions will depend on security conditions and operational viability.

Maersk indicated that the AE19 is one of four services that have transitioned from the Cape of Good Hope to the Suez Canal since early July. While other services could potentially benefit from the Suez route, many continue to bypass the area as the maritime industry monitors the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.