Shipping Arabia, October 8, 2026 – Hapag-Lloyd has confirmed the first westbound and eastbound sailings of the Gemini Cooperation’s SE1 service through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, marking another step in the gradual rerouting of selected Gemini services away from the Cape of Good Hope.
The German carrier said the container ship Umm Qarn will operate the two sailings. The first westbound voyage is scheduled for October 27, while the second sailing is planned for December 5.
The announcement follows an earlier decision by Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk to shift some Gemini Cooperation services from the Cape of Good Hope route to the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
Hapag-Lloyd SE1 Suez Canal sailings follow initial transits
Hapag-Lloyd said initial transits through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait proceeded according to plan. Those movements also provided operational experience ahead of the upcoming SE1 transits.
The confirmed SE1 sailings form part of a gradual approach by the Gemini partners as selected services return to the Red Sea and Suez Canal route.
Rather than applying the change across the entire network, Hapag-Lloyd is assessing the return on a service-by-service basis.
Security assessments planned for each voyage
Security remains a central element of the planned SE1 operations. Hapag-Lloyd said each voyage will undergo a detailed security assessment before transit.
The company also said the vessels will transit under naval protection and in coordination with the relevant authorities and security partners.
These arrangements will accompany the first confirmed SE1 sailings as the service begins using the Red Sea and Suez Canal route.
No full Gemini network return yet
Hapag-Lloyd emphasized that the development should not be interpreted as a complete strategic return of the Gemini Cooperation network to the Red Sea.
Instead, the carrier described the move as a gradual process tailored to individual services. The approach allows Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk to reroute selected Gemini services while continuing to assess each operation separately.
The first Umm Qarn sailing on October 27 and the second voyage scheduled for December 5 will therefore represent specific SE1 movements through the Red Sea and Suez Canal rather than a network-wide change in Gemini routing.
Source: Al Mal