Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd plan to gradually resume Suez Canal transits across parts of their Asia–Europe network. The move would reduce reliance on diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, which have increased transit times and operating costs.The change applies to the AE15/SE3 Gemini service linking Asia, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe.

“This joint decision with Hapag-Lloyd comes following thorough assessments of the security situation in the Red Sea area and marks a step towards a gradual return to the trans-Suez corridor,” Maersk stated in an advisory. As reported by Reuters, citing a Hapag-Lloyd spokesperson, the adjusted routing is expected to reduce transit times by approximately four weeks. Maersk added that the Suez route remains the most efficient option for Asia–Europe trade, subject to continued stability in the region.

According to reporting by Container News, the move is significant for the Eastern Mediterranean, even though the service does not include a direct call at a port in Greece. A return to the shorter Suez routings could help reinforce the region’s competitive position by improving connectivity and transit efficiency.

The Port of Piraeus is among those likely to benefit. As a major European container gateway and transshipment hub,improved connectivity to the Suez Canal would help drive cargo volumes and strengthen feeder networks across the Eastern Mediterranean. This would reinforce Greece’s role as a regional logistics hub.

“Greece has always been a crossroads of trade, strategically positioned between Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa,” says Panos Papadimitriou, General Manager for Greece at Shipco Transport, noting that the country also operates as a natural entry point for Far East imports and a gateway into the Balkan region.

At the same time, recent moves by carriers have targeted growing demand in the Far East–Mediterranean trade by deploying larger vessels and expanding their service coverage in the region.

Source: Maersk, Reuters, Container News, Shipco Transport