BIG BANG IN MARITIME ALLIANCES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Recent developments in the maritime sector herald major changes for 2025 and beyond. Let’s take a look at the new maritime alliances that are reshaping the shipping landscape and what these changes mean for you as an industry player.
A NEW ERA FOR MAERSK LINE AND HAPAG-LLOYD WITH GEMINI CORPORATION
The 2M alliance, a partnership between Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) since 2015, comes to an end on January, 1st 2025. The Italian-Swiss company MSC has chosen to continue its solo route, operating 34 loops on its 5 corridors. In response, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have created Gemini Corporation, a new alliance that begins in February 2025. Gemini is characterised by a desire to reduce environmental impact and a hub-and-spoke organisation, with up to 29 main line services and around thirty secondary lines linking the hubs to the ports served (including around fifteen in Europe). Bringing together up to 340 ships (3.7 million TEUs – twenty-foot equivalent units), it will offer services on seven major traffic routes between Asia, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, India and North America. Gemini will also be introducing an alternative network in October, in response to the continuing crisis in the Red Sea.
STRENGTHENING THE OCEAN ALLIANCE
The current Ocean Alliance (CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, EVERGREEN, OOCL) has opted to extend its partnership until 2032. This alliance consolidates its presence on the market with more than 330 container ships (4.5 million TEU) and significant activity on the transpacific as well as on the Middle East, North America, Asia and Europe lines.
ONE, HMM AND YANG MING GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH WITH PREMIER ALLIANCE
With the departure of Hapag-Lloyd under the current THE Alliance banner, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Yang Ming Line (YML) form Premier Alliance from February 2025, for 5 years. This new tripartite entity will continue to cooperate with world leader MSC, providing enhanced coverage on the Asia-Europe trade with five services to Northern Europe and four to the Mediterranean.
FRENCH PORTS: UNEQUAL ACCESS
These new alliances leave some French ports on the periphery of the major itineraries. Le Havre, for example, retains important calls with MSC but will be limited in the new configuration of Gemini Corporation. Marseille-Fos will be served by a few secondary services and shuttles, but will be excluded from Gemini’s main routes. This situation could affect the connectivity of French ports with major international shipping routes.
However, at Balguerie Group, we remain fully committed to anticipating these changes to serve you better. Thanks to our expertise, we ensure that these maritime alliances become opportunities to optimise your supply chains, while continuing to offer you a quality service and flawless management of your maritime transport needs.
