Carriers adjust their services in response to market dynamics and operational hurdles. Stay informed of upcoming changes with Kuehne+Nagel's carrier service update, published bi-weekly on Sea News and seaexplorer.

New & updated services on main trade lanes

Europe <-> Middle East

On 12 February, CMA CGM launched a new service to connect the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. The service includes five transhipment hubs in the Mediterranean. With this service, the carrier aims to service Red Sea ports while avoiding the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

• Carrier service name: REDEX
• Port rotation: Alexandria - Damietta - Aqaba - Jeddah - Tangier - Algeciras - Marsaxlokk - Alexandria
• Frequency: Weekly
• First sailing: CMA CGM Puget departed Alexandria on 12 February

Intra South America

On 6 February, Hapag Lloyd and Norsil launched an intra-Brasil service.

• Carrier service name: Norcoast
• Port rotation: Santos, Paranagua, Suape, Pecem, Manaus, Pecem, Suape, Santos
• First sailing: NC Brisa departing Santos on 6 February

Mediterranean/Black Sea <-> Africa

CMA CGM adjusted its service offering from the West Mediterranean to West Africa this month by including San Pedro and Monrovia. Marseille, Barcelona and Valencia were dropped and will be served via Tanger Med and Algeciras on the EURAF loops instead. CMA CGM adds that this will improve the transit time to these three ports.

• Carrier service name: MEDWAX
• Port rotation: Tanger Med - Algeciras - Dakar - Conakry - Monrovia - San Pedro - Abidjan - Freetown - Tanger Med
• Last sailing from Marseille: CMA CGM Ambarli on 20 February.

In March, Hapag-Lloyd will offer a new feeder service connecting Turkey with the Middle East.

• Carrier service name: TRS
• Port rotation: Iskenderun - Mersin - Jeddah - Aqaba - Iskenderun
• First sailing: Leyla Kalkavan departs Iskenderun on 3 March

North America<-> South America

CMA CGM revised its service between East Coast North America and West Coast South America this month. The service will add a port call in Norfolk. ONE will slot charter on this service.

• Carrier service name: CMA CGM (AMERXL), ONE (FLX)
• Port rotation: New York - Norfolk - Cartagena (Colombia) - Buenaventura - Guayaquil - Callao - San Antonio - Callao - Guayaquil - Cartagena (Colombia) - Port Everglades - Philadelphia - New York
• First sailing: AS Anne sailed New York on 3 February

MSC will revise its service between North America's East Coast and South America's East Coast later this week. Freeport will be added to the rotation, and Port Everglades, Caucedo, and Suape will be dropped.

• Carrier service name: SAEC String 1
• Port rotation: New York - Norfolk - Baltimore - Charleston - Savannah - Port Everglades - Freeport - Cristobal - Santos - Buenos Aires - Montevideo - Rio Grande - Navegantes - Paranagua - Santos - Rio de Janeiro - Suape - Salvador - Cristobal - Caucedo - Freeport - New York
• Frequency: Weekly
• Vessel deployment: 9 vessels with an average capacity of 6,400 TEU
• First sailing: MSC Michigan departing New York on 29 February.

Oceania <-> North and South America

Due to operational improvements in Sydney, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will add the port back to their Oceania services in March. The Brisbane call will be dropped after the Oluf Maersk calls on 19 March. Maersk Brisbane cargo will be moved via transhipment on its EAC service, and Hapag-Lloyd cargo will be transhiped on its SEA service

• Carrier service name: OC1 (Maersk), ANP (Hapag-Lloyd)
• Port rotation: Philadelphia - Charleston - Manzanillo - Panama Rail service - Balboa - Tauranga - Sydney - Melbourne - Port Chalmers - Tauranga - Balboa - Panama Rail service - Manzanillo - Philadelphia
• First sailing: Maersk Bali departing Sydney on 27 March

Transpacific

In April/May 2024, ONE will join Wan Hai's service between Asia and the West Coast of North America. Wan Hai currently runs the service using five ships. ONE will add two.

• Carrier service name: ONE (AP1), Wan Hai (AA3)
• Port rotation: Haiphong - Cai Mep - Shekou - Xiamen - Taipei - Ningbo - Shanghai - Los Angeles - Oakland - Shekou - Haiphong
• Vessel deployment: 7 vessels with an average capacity of 8,000 TEU
• First sailing: TBA

Gemini Cooperation

Maersk released further details of its partnership with fellow European carrier Hapag Lloyd. The alliance known as the Germini Cooperation will begin on 1 February 2025. Although specific schedule details have not been released, Maersk has already communicated changes to its network model and offerings on its key East-West trades.

Changes to the Network Model

The alliance is adopting a hub and spoke model for its new network. This means fewer direct port calls on its mainline services, with shuttle loops handling cargo from main transhipment hubs to destination. While the reduction in direct calls does mean more transhipments, Maersk believes this will reduce the potential for disruptions.

In addition, the alliance aims to maintain control of productivity, reliability and connectivity in two ways:

1. Shuttle Services: Built around owned/controlled hubs having the same priority as mainliners
2. Sole operator status: Either carrier exclusively operates most mainline services.

This, together with strict governance and contractual obligations, leads to the alliance targeting schedule reliability of above 90% once fully phased in.

Offerings on key East-West trades

In addition to its ambitious reliability goals, the alliance aims to offer competitive transit times across strategic corridors. Below is a summary of the expected transit time improvements and other highlights announced by Maersk.

Asia, Europe, Middle East and India services

Transatlantic and transpacific