Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd Resume More Suez Canal Container Ship Sailings
Resumption of Suez Canal Sailings and Strategic Implications
Background of Suez Canal Route Abandonment
COPENHAGEN, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Shipping group Maersk said on Monday that four more of its joint container services with Germany's Hapag-Lloyd will resume sailings through the Suez Canal, as they gradually return to using the shortcut between Asia and Europe.
The Asia-Europe trade corridor through the Suez Canal was abandoned by most shippers earlier this decade after attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthis, forcing ships to take the much longer trip around Africa.
Importance of the Suez Canal for Global Trade
"The Suez Canal is a vital maritime corridor between East and West and a key driver of efficient global supply chains," Denmark's Maersk said in a statement.
Transitioning Services Back to the Suez Canal
"By transitioning the AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 services to the trans-Suez corridor instead of sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, we will offer more efficient transit times for customers," it added.
Monitoring Regional Security and Service Adjustments
The two companies will continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East very closely, and any changes to their services within the Gemini cooperation network will depend on the absence of escalation in conflicts in the region, Maersk said.
Previous Announcements and Gemini Network Formation
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd in early July and later again in August announced that they would resume some services connecting Asia, the Mediterranean and Europe through the Suez Canal.
The two companies formed the Gemini network last year in a bid to cut their shipping costs and improve schedule reliability.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Louise Rasmussen, editing by Stine Jacobsen and Terje Solsvik)
