Hapag-Lloyd AG and Maersk A/S, a subsidiary of AP Moller – Maersk, have signed an agreement to establish a new long-term operational alliance called “Gemini Cooperation” set to launch in February 2025. Their ambition is to provide a flexible and highly reliable shipping network!
Details about the Gemini alliance:
– Fleet: Approximately 290 vessels with a total capacity of 3.4 million TEU
– Contribution ratio: Maersk 60%, Hapag-Lloyd 40%
– Trade routes: 7 trades and offer 26 mainline services, including:
+ 14 services in Europe
+ 4 services in the Middle East
+ 13 services in Asia
+ 1 service in the Gulf of Mexico
Barrier from FMC (Global Shippers Forum):
The FMC has ordered a halt to the Gemini alliance and requested Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to provide “additional information” to determine the “potential competitive impact”. The FMC stated: “The commission has determined that the Gemini Cooperation agreement as submitted lacks sufficient detail to allow for a complete analysis of its potential competitive impacts”.
Expert opinion:
James Hookham, Director of the Global Shippers Forum, said: “Shippers do not, in principle, have a problem with consortia, alliances, or cooperation between container shipping lines… However, the problem lies in special exemptions that are not clearly defined and are difficult to enforce, which can lead to anti-competitive issues in U.S. services.”
Source: The loadstar.
