Gemini Alliance rollout kicks into gear with the first sailings

The Gemini rollout kicks into gear with the first sailings taking place on February 1. Container vessel operators Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk said on Friday they will launch their new ocean network,called Gemini Cooperation, on Saturday.

The companies are now pursuing new strategies to secure market share in the changing requirements of the post-COVID world.

Around 340 vessels will be phased in and be a part of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s shared ocean network with the first sailings taking place on February 1, and more vessels will gradually sail on the new schedules.

The transition period will run until late May, with vessels phasing into the new network, and out of the expiring agreements that Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have with other carriers.

Full service will kick off in June with the aim to deliver over 90% schedule reliability.

Maersk says June will be the first full month in which the network is fully phased in with all vessels sailing on Gemini schedules.

The shared network between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd covers east and west trades and will consist of 29 ocean mainliner services supported by an