News / Gemini drops Felixstowe for London Gateway on Asia-Europe strings

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With just 10 weeks until the Gemini Cooperation formally begins sailings – and two weeks before bookings open – Maersk and Hagag-Lloyd have announced they are to drop Felixstowe on Asia-North Europe routes in favour of London Gateway.

Under the original Gemini network, there were to be four Asia-North Europe strings – the AE1, AE2, AE3 and AE5 – with a UK call scheduled on the AE1, AE3 and AE5 services.

A Maersk customer advisory said it recently undertook a review of the new network with Hapag-Lloyd and, “during this optimisation process and our review of the Asia-Europe services, we have concluded that London Gateway is the most optimal port to serve our customers importing/exporting cargo to/from the UK”.

It added: “This strategic decision comes as part of the ambition to reduce network complexity with mostly single operator loops and fewer port calls per service, and is aimed at enhancing reliability, reach, and speed for our customers.

“Due to this change, Felixstowe will not be a part of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s shared Gemini network.”

“Gemini choosing London Gateway for their Asia-Europe and Middle East-Europe services is a testament to the investments we’ve made to build an advanced, world-class logistics hub,” Ernst Schulze, chief executive , Ports & Terminals, DP World in the UK, said.

“London Gateway is setting new benchmarks for accessibility and efficiency in the UK market, ensuring our customers remain competitive in a fast-changing global economy. With a further £1bn to be invested in two all-electric berths and a second rail terminal, building on our recently launched £350m fourth berth, we are continuing to grow.

“Our unmatched supply chain capabilities, operational reliability, and flexibility demonstrate why Gemini has entrusted us with these key services at London Gateway and their Trans-Atlantic services at Southampton,” he added.

Maersk said the switch would not affect its services operated outside Gemini. According to the eeSea liner database, the Danish carrier has four outside its existing 2M arrangement with MSC, due to end on 1 February, calling at Felixstowe.

These are: a North Europe-Mediterranean intra-regional service run in cooperation with Borchard Lines, Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL and Turkon; one feeder string to Scandinavia; and two Europe-Middle East services.

Other Gemini UK port calls include two stays a week at London Gateway on two of its Middle East/India-Europe services and three Southampton calls on the transatlantic services. Both Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd said these would proceed as planned.