The alliance between Maersk and Hapag Lloyd envisages an increase in services guaranteed via transhipment to 45%
The Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd could be a game-changer if the two shipping companies can make their joint network work as intended, according to two analysts
After the ‘commercial’ for MSC
A few weeks after the ‘commercial’ for MSC’s new service network by its CEO Soren Toft, the response has arrived from rival Gemini, the container transport alliance between Maersk and Hapag Lloyd which will also start its new programming in February 2025 according to shipping Italy
Gemini’s presentation
If Toft’s presentation had leveraged above all on the large number of direct connections ensured by the Swiss company (in response to the growing fragmentation of supply chains), Gemini’s presentation instead focused largely on the issue of punctuality of container ships, which the new alliance wants to guarantee “90% once the network is fully operational”.
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During the Xeneta Summit
This target was confirmed by two top managers of the two carriers – the CEO of Hapag Lloyd Rolf Habben Jansen and the vice president of the Ocean area of Maersk Kenni Skotte – during the Xeneta Summit, which took place last week in Amsterdam. “I recognize that if you look at the reliability (of services, ed.) of the market today, it is difficult to imagine it” admitted Skotte in particular in reference to achieving the objective.
Punctuality of container ships
As is known, during 2024 the punctuality of container ships remained at levels of just over 50%, therefore far from the trend of 2019 when it had traveled above 70% (with peaks of over 80%) during the whole year.
Latest analysis by Sea-Intelligence
In detail, according to the latest analysis by Sea-Intelligence, this parameter reached an average value of 52.8% last August, with the performances of Maersk and Hapag Lloyd, first and second in the ranking in the month, proving to be above average but not by much (in order, 54.7% and 54.3%). The rival MSC, on the other hand, held only slightly lower levels, i.e. equal to 51.7%.
Punctuality rates
What will allow the achievement of these punctuality rates, the two managers reiterated, will be the implementation of the alliance and spoke model in which Maersk and Hapag Lloyd have structured their joint network, which – Jensen has now highlighted – will see the share of services of transshipment to grow from 35% to 45%.
Numerous shuttle services
Adding :The decision to start connections while continuing to pass through the Cape of Good Hope, added the two managers, will have no impact on achieving the objective of 90% punctuality.
In the documentation released at the time of the launch, Gemini had illustrated its model, based on the structuring of some main connections supported by numerous shuttle services (and in addition to these, also feeders).
Ships off the coast of South Africa
The option which involves the passage of ships off the coast of South Africa – an alternative to the one with once again regular transits through the Red Sea – in detail consists of 28 mainliner services, supported by 28 of the intra-regional type, with operations guaranteed by 340 units per a total of 3.7 million TEUs in the hold.
Apm Terminal
According to the two partners, the use of mostly owned terminals will contribute to achieving the objective of maximum punctuality.
Maersk also explained how its employees – i.e. those who report to Apm Terminal – have seen productivity grow by 14% in the last two years, “which has helped in reducing time spent in ports by 15-20%”.
Another operational choice which according to the Danish carrier will contribute to achieving this objective is that each mainline service will be entrusted to only one of the two carriers, with the aim of “reducing operational complexity”.
Read more :
Xeneta Summit : Reinforce confidence in Gemini alliance
Gemini : 2025 ships will continue to navigate Cape of Good Hope
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