Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will reroute their AE15 Gemini Cooperation service through the Suez Canal, marking the first structural return of a Gemini service to the Red Sea corridor.
The change will take effect with the sailing of the Majestic Maersk.
The carriers said the decision follows a thorough assessment of the security situation in the Red Sea and represents a gradual return to the trans-Suez route.
The AE15 service connects Asia, the Mediterranean and Europe.
The revised rotation will be:
Qingdao – Kwangyang – Ningbo – Cape Pelepas – Port Said – Damietta – Colombo – Singapore.
Maersk said the Suez Canal remains the fastest, most efficient and most sustainable route between Asia and Europe.
By returning AE15 to the Suez Canal instead of routing vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, the carrier expects to offer customers shorter transit times and more efficient supply chains.
Despite the change, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd said they will continue to monitor the security situation in the Middle East.
The companies stressed that the safety of crews, vessels and cargo remains their top priority.
They also confirmed that contingency plans are in place. If security conditions deteriorate, the service could temporarily return to the Cape of Good Hope route.
The carriers said they will announce any further adjustments to the Gemini network as conditions evolve.