The AE5, AE11, AE12
and ME2 services — known as NE4, SE2, SE1 and IEX respectively in Hapag-Lloyd’s
network — will shift from routing around the Cape of Good Hope to transiting
the Suez Canal following a further assessment of security conditions in the Red
Sea. The four services will join AE15
and AE19, which have already resumed Suez Canal operations. The first westbound sailings include
Antonia Maersk on AE11 and Cornelia Maersk on ME2, departing their final Asian
calls before entering the Suez route on September 19, followed by Marchen
Maersk on AE5 on September 21. The first AE12 sailing will be announced
separately. Eastbound implementation
is scheduled to begin with Maastricht Maersk on AE5 on September 22, followed
by Maersk Halifax on AE11 on September 28 and Cornelia Maersk on ME2 on October
31. The returning services link major
Asian gateways with key Northern European and Mediterranean ports, including
London, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Algeciras, Valencia, Barcelona, La Spezia,
Genoa, Koper and Rijeka. Maersk and
Hapag-Lloyd said the use of the Red Sea and Suez Canal offers shorter and more
efficient transit times between Asia and Europe compared with the longer Cape
of Good Hope routing. Both carriers
emphasised that further network decisions will continue to depend on security
conditions in the region, with the safety of crews, vessels and cargo remaining
the primary consideration. The return
of four additional Gemini services marks another step in the recovery of
mainline container traffic through the Suez Canal and the gradual restoration
of the traditional Asia-Europe maritime corridor.