Hapag-Lloyd AG and A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) have signed an agreement for a new long-term operational partnership.
The new ‘Gemini Cooperation’ between the two shipping giants is scheduled to commence in February 2025, with the ambition to deliver a flexible and interconnected ocean network with industry-leading reliability.
Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, said: “Teaming up with Maersk will help us to further boost the quality we deliver to our customers. Additionally, we will benefit from efficiency gains in our operations and joint efforts to further accelerate the decarbonisation of our industry.”
The new partnership between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will reportedly include a fleet pool of around 290 vessels with a combined capacity of 3.4 million TEU, with Maersk deploying 60 per cent and Hapag-Lloyd 40 per cent.
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Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk, stated: “We are pleased to enter this cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd, which is the ideal ocean partner on our strategic journey.
“By entering this cooperation, we will be offering our customers a flexible ocean network that will be raising the bar for reliability in the industry. This will strengthen our integrated logistics offering and meet our customers’ needs.”
As part of the deal, the two firms have set an ambitious goal of achieving schedule reliability of more than 90 per cent once the network is completely implemented.
In addition to increased service quality, consumers will benefit from shorter transit times in several key port-to-port routes and access to some of the world’s finest linked maritime hubs.
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Both companies have declared their dedication to decarbonising their fleets and have set the industry’s most ambitious decarbonisation objectives, with Maersk aiming for net-zero emissions in 2040 and Hapag-Lloyd in 2045.
As a result of this collaboration, Hapag-Lloyd will depart THE Alliance at the end of January 2025. The news follows Maersk’s decision last year to end the 2M collaboration with MSC effective January 2025.
In 2024, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd aim to carefully arrange the transition from their present partnerships to the new operational collaboration.
Hapag-Lloyd noted that more information regarding Gemini Cooperation, including new vessel schedules, will be provided as they become available.
