Maersk on Wednesday denied published reports that it has set a timeline to resume services through the Red Sea and Suez Canal shipping route.<\/p>\n
In a customer advisory, the world\u2019s second-largest container line said \u201cAs the safety of crew, vessels and cargo remains\u202four\u202ftop priority, we currently have no\u202fspecific\u202ftiming to\u202fchange the Gemini east-west network to sailing\u202fthrough the Red Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gemini is Maersk\u2019s cooperative service arrangement with German carrier Hapag-Lloyd (HLAG.DE<\/a>).<\/p>\n The advisory follows media reports after the Suez Canal Authority on Tuesday released a statement<\/a> that it had signed an agreement with the Copenhagen-based carrier to resume sailings through the Suez Canal by early December 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe trans-Suez route is the fastest, most sustainable and most efficient way for us to serve you with transport between Asia and Europe,\u201d said Maersk (MAERSK-B.CO<\/a>). \u201cAs efforts to stabilize the Red Sea continue to gain momentum, we are closely monitoring developments and explore (sic) opportunities for a safe and sustainable return to east-west Suez transits.\u201d<\/p>\n A Maersk spokesman in an email to FreightWaves said that the signing was an extension of an existing agreement and not related to the Red Sea. He shared the text of the announcement which called for a normalization of Suez transits \u201cover time\u201d.<\/p>\n Major carriers since early 2024 have diverted container and tanker voyages away from the Red Sea around the tip of Africa after Houthi militia in Yemen attacked shipping in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fewer ships meant Egypt saw a drastic decline in toll revenue leading to concerns it would be forced to cut spending on social services at a time of increasing instability throughout the Middle East.<\/p>\n The authority said 1,156 vessels transited the canal in November, up from 1,000 a year ago, as toll revenue increased by 21%.<\/p>\n \u201cConsidering the Gaza ceasefire progress, we closely monitor developments in the region, and\u202fwe are continuously conducting detailed security assessments,\u201d Marsk said.\u202f\u201dWhen security conditions warrant it, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will carefully coordinate with our respective customers and important stakeholders to\u202fensure an\u202forderly\u202ftransfer to a Suez-based network\u202fwith minimal disruption to our customer\u00b4s supply chains.\u201d<\/p>\n For other Maersk services the company said it will resume Suez transits \u201cwhen conditions permit and only once assessed to be safe and sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n This article was updated Nov. 26 to include a statement by Maersk.<\/p>\n Find more articles by Stuart Chirls\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n Related coverage:<\/p>\n CMA CGM connects U.S. services with new Vietnam barge<\/a><\/p>\n Port Houston cargo surges in October as Foxconn eyes major expansion<\/a><\/p>\n Maersk relocates North American HQ to Charlotte<\/a><\/p>\n Loose wire led to ship collapsing Baltimore bridge: NTSB<\/a><\/p>\n Upcoming FreightWaves Events<\/p>\n Fraud & Security<\/p>\n Freight Fraud Symposium<\/p>\n Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.<\/p>\n May 20, 2026<\/p>\n Rock & Roll Hall of Fame \u2022 Cleveland, OH<\/p>\n Register Now<\/a><\/p>\n AI & Technology<\/p>\n Supply Chain AI Symposium<\/p>\n Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.<\/p>\n July 15, 2026<\/p>\n The Old Post Office \u2022 Chicago, IL<\/p>\n Register Now<\/a><\/p>\n Rail & Policy<\/p>\n Future of Rail Symposium<\/p>\n Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.<\/p>\n July 28, 2026<\/p>\n The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo \u2022 Chattanooga, TN<\/p>\n Register Now<\/a><\/p>\n \n Fraud & Security Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.<\/p>\n Rock & Roll Hall of Fame \u2022 Cleveland, OH \n AI & Technology Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.<\/p>\n The Old Post Office \u2022 Chicago, IL \n Rail & Policy Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.<\/p>\n
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