The new shipping alliance between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will launch next year using the Cape of Good Hope.

The shipping giants announced their decision to launch their "Gemini Cooperation" on February 1, 2025, via the Cape of Good Hope route, citing continued threats to commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

"Last month, we reached out with an update on the Gemini Cooperation and the Network of the Future. We are now writing with further information about what network is expected to be phased in on February 01, 2025," Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd said in a statement.

"After thorough consideration, and given the continued safety concerns in the Red Sea, Hapag-Lloyd AG (Hapag-Lloyd) and Maersk A/S (Maersk), an entity under A.P. Moller–Maersk, confirm that they expect to phase in their Cape of Good Hope network for the commencement of the Gemini Cooperation on February 1, 2025," they added.

This decision is the latest indication that the Red Sea crisis shows no signs of abating, nearly a year after the Iranian-backed Houthis began their campaign against commercial shipping in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

"As the situation remains highly dynamic, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will return to the Red Sea when it is safe to do so," Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd said in the joint statement.

The announcement noted that the Cape of Good Hope network will include 29 mainliner services supported by 28 intraregional shuttle services and will be operated by a fleet of around 340 vessels with a total capacity of 3.7 million TEUs.

"The Gemini Cooperation’s ambition is to deliver industry-leading schedule reliability of above 90% once fully phased in, ensuring efficient and flexible services across the East-West trades," Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd said.

In early September, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd presented two possible options for Gemini's operations upon launch, depending on the Red Sea situation: either resuming the Red Sea route or continuing to use the alternative Cape of Good Hope route.

In its latest network update, the new alliance partners emphasized the decision to opt for the longer Cape of Good Hope route, underscoring the priority placed on safety.

"The decision to implement the Cape of Good Hope network has been taken after thorough consideration and is driven by ongoing safety concerns in the Red Sea region," the joint statement said.

"Given the current geopolitical situation and the need to ensure the safety of our people, we determined that this route is the only viable option at this stage," the companies added.

In January 2024, Maersk announced that it would instead enter into a new cooperation agreement—Gemini—with leading German carrier Hapag-Lloyd. This agreement will take effect in February 2025, immediately after the end of the 2M alliance between Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Hapag-Lloyd will also exit THE Alliance with ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming at the end of January 2025.

The "Gemini Cooperation" will cover the main East-West Trades and will cover seven global (sub)trades and offer 26 mainline services.