Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd Reroute India-Europe ME1 Service via Suez Canal

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will send their joint India-Europe container service back through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Ships on the service have been sailing the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope. The carriers announced the change on 2 November 2026 after a security assessment. The first westbound sailing on the restored route leaves Salalah, Oman, on 4 November.

Maersk runs the service as ME1 and Hapag-Lloyd as the Indian Ocean Service (IOS), under the Gemini Cooperation. The move is the latest step in the partners’ phased return to Suez routings. Both carriers say the Suez routing depends on regional security and operating conditions holding up.

The return to Suez should give Indian exporters and importers on the Europe trade shorter transit times, with both Indian gateways still on the rotation.

First sailings on the Suez routing

The first westbound departure is Atlanta Express, voyage 644W, from Salalah on 4 November 2026.

The first eastbound sailing is Savannah Express, voyage 644E, from Tangier, Morocco. The two carriers list different dates for it. Hapag-Lloyd gives 12 November and Maersk gives 13 November. Hapag-Lloyd says its departure dates are approximate and may change with operating conditions, so shippers should check the eastbound date against their own booking.

Port rotation: Mundra and Nhava Sheva retained

Maersk has published this revised rotation:

Mundra – Nhava Sheva – Salalah – Suez Canal – Tangier – Rotterdam – Wilhelmshaven – Hamburg – London – Algeciras – Tangier – Suez Canal – Salalah – Mundra

The service will transit Suez in both directions and keep its two Indian west coast calls at Mundra and Nhava Sheva (JNPA). Maersk expects transit times to improve. Its announcement does not say how many days will be saved and does not include revised port-to-port timings.

Part of Gemini’s wider return to the Red Sea

The ME1/IOS change follows several earlier routing changes across the Gemini network:

• July 2026: Hapag-Lloyd said its SE3 service would return to the Red Sea route, with Majestic Maersk as the first vessel, giving a more direct Asia-Europe connection.
• 14 September 2026: Maersk announced it would move four more services from the Cape route to Suez: AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2. These cover the Asia-North Europe, Asia-Mediterranean and India-Europe trades. They joined AE15 and AE19, which were already using the corridor.
• ME2: The ME2 announcement included an India-Europe rotation calling at Ennore and Colombo. That adds a second Indian link, on the east coast, to the programme.

Security conditions still decide routing

Earlier events show these routing decisions can be reversed. On 1 March 2026, as the regional conflict escalated, Maersk suspended future trans-Suez sailings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It moved its ME11 and MECL services around the Cape of Good Hope and said Suez would remain its preferred route once security allowed.

In announcing the IOS change, Hapag-Lloyd again stressed protecting crews, vessels and cargo. It said it would keep monitoring the situation and update customers. The decision covers this service only. It does not return all Gemini sailings to the Red Sea.

About the Gemini Cooperation

The Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd began operating on 1 February 2025. At launch, the plan covered about 340 vessels, 29 mainline services and 28 regional shuttle services. The partners aim for schedule reliability above 90% once the network is fully in place. Mainline routes link the major east-west trades, and regional shuttles feed them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd service is returning to the Suez Canal?
The joint India-Europe service. Maersk calls it ME1 and Hapag-Lloyd calls it the Indian Ocean Service (IOS). It runs under the Gemini Cooperation and will now pass through the Red Sea and Suez Canal instead of going around the Cape of Good Hope.

2. When does the first sailing on the Suez route depart?
The first westbound sailing, Atlanta Express voyage 644W, leaves Salalah on 4 November 2026. The first eastbound sailing, Savannah Express voyage 644E, leaves Tangier on 12 or 13 November, depending on which carrier’s schedule you use.

3. Which Indian ports does the ME1/IOS service call at?
Mundra and Nhava Sheva. In Europe, it calls at Rotterdam, Wilhelmshaven, Hamburg, London, Algeciras and Tangier.

4. How much transit time will Indian shippers save?
Maersk expects shorter transit times but has not said how many days will be saved or published revised port-to-port schedules. Shippers should confirm timings with their carrier.

5. Are all Gemini services now going through the Red Sea?
No. This decision covers the ME1/IOS service only. Other services, such as SE3, AE5, AE11, AE12, ME2, AE15 and AE19, have been moved back separately. All Suez routings remain subject to regional security conditions.