Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd plan to resume Suez Canal service amid improved Red Sea security

A.M. Møller‑Maersk and Germany’s Hapag‑Lloyd announced that vessels from their Gemini cooperation will be redirected through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, marking a tentative step back to the trans‑Suez trade corridor. The move follows fresh security assessments that suggest a cease‑fire in the region has reduced the threat from Houthi attacks, which since late 2023 forced most carriers to detour around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

Maersk’s Majestic, currently near Oman, will be the first ship to use the shorter route, cutting transit times between Asia, the Mediterranean and Europe by up to four weeks. Both companies expect the shift to ease capacity constraints that have driven up freight rates, although their shares fell on the news as investors weigh the impact on shipping capacity and pricing.

The restart is limited to selected services under the Gemini alliance; other routes will remain under review as the companies continue to monitor the security situation in the Red Sea and adjacent waters.