London Gateway Selected As UK Hub For Gemini Partnership As Felixstowe Fails To Do So

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have selected London Gateway as the UK headquarters for the upcoming Gemini partnership, which is set to launch on February 1, 2025.

The strategic decision will remove Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, from the Asia-Europe service of the combined Gemini network as part of a wider network improvement program.

Maersk said the change supports the partnership’s goal to streamline operations by implementing a single carrier loop and reducing port calls, thereby improving service reliability, range, and speed.

A month ago, DP World announced an ambitious £1 billion expansion of London Gateway, including plans for two additional cargo berths to replace Felixstowe as the UK’s largest container port within five years.

While standalone Maersk services will continue to operate at the port of Felixstowe, the port is reportedly expected to see two fewer large vessel calls per week.

Gemini Collaboration offers an innovative ‘hub and spoke’ approach that aims to achieve an impressive 90% service reliability in an industry that averages just 53%.

Jenny Riddell Carpenter, MP for Suffolk Coast, expressed concern about the decision: “I am extremely disappointed… The Port of Felixstowe is the gateway to the UK’s trade network and is unrivalled in its service offering to the global shipping market.”

The reorganization affects mainly trade lanes between Asia and Europe, while previously announced services between the Middle East and Europe via the London gateway and transatlantic services via Southampton remain unchanged.

Maersk said further details on the transition plan will be announced in the coming weeks.