Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have decided to temporarily modify several services in their joint network between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East as a consequence of the deteriorating security in the region. The two companies have communicated the suspension of the AGX and IMX services, the removal of the stop at Jebel Ali on the IOS service, and the initiation of a new rotation, called SE4, to maintain connectivity between the Far East, the Mediterranean, and Jeddah.
The measure comes after a new operational and risk review in the midst of escalating conflict in the Middle East. This scenario affects commercial navigation in the Gulf region and forces shipping companies to rebuild part of their network to sustain the stability of their stops and the transshipment links between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
As part of this reorganization, the new SE4 service will connect Tianjin Xingang, Qingdao, Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Tanjung Pelepas with a hub in the western Mediterranean, another in the eastern Mediterranean, and the Saudi port of Jeddah, before returning via Singapore to Tianjin Xingang. Although the companies do not officially identify which ports will act as nodes in the Mediterranean, the scheme opens the door for Algeciras to once again become a relevant piece within the western Mediterranean in the transshipment operations linked to the Gemini network. The first announced voyage will be that of theMaersk Elbaon its voyage 611W, with an estimated arrival at Tianjin Xingang on March 13, 2026.
The adjustment implies the withdrawal from circulation of two relevant services within the Gemini scheme. In the case of the AGX, the link between the Far East and the Middle East is temporarily suspended. In parallel, the IMX service, which connected the Middle East, India, and the Mediterranean, will also be temporarily halted, with theAstrid Maersk609W being the last planned voyage for the time being, departing from Salalah on March 19, 2026.
