The shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have announced the resumption of the container shipping service FM1, which connects the main ports of Asia with the Middle East, after being suspended since March 2026. The line, integrated into the Gemini cooperation network, will resume operations this October with a new configuration of stops and with the port of Khor Fakkan, in the United Arab Emirates, as the connection point to the gulf region.
According to the official communication published by Maersk on October 13, the first voyage will be conducted by the container ship Maersk Athabasca, corresponding to the voyage 642W, whose departure from Qingdao, China, is scheduled for October 17. The arrival in Khor Fakkan is expected on November 16, after making stops in Ningbo and Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia.
The new rotation includes the itinerary Qingdao, Ningbo, Tanjung Pelepas, Khor Fakkan, and Singapore, before returning to the original Chinese port. In this way, the service will restore direct maritime connections between East Asia and the United Arab Emirates, with a stop on the eastern coastline of the country.
Hapag-Lloyd, which markets this connection under the name AGX, has also confirmed the reinstatement of operations with a weekly frequency and the same sequence of ports. In its communication to customers, the German company places the start of service on October 18, a date it identifies as the expected arrival of Maersk Athabasca in Qingdao, while Maersk sets its departure for the day before.
The suspension of FM1 was officially announced on March 6, 2026, when Maersk communicated the temporary interruption of this connection and the ME11 service, which linked the Middle East with Europe. The decision was motivated by the deterioration of security conditions for navigation in the gulf region, in the context of escalating conflict in the Middle East.
At that time, the shipping company explained that the halting of both lines was a response to risk assessments conducted on its operations and the need to protect crew members and vessels. The suspension also affected regional link services in the gulf, while other connections, such as ME1, modified their stops to maintain operations at certain ports in India and Oman.
The recovery of FM1 incorporates modifications regarding its previous configuration. In June 2025, Maersk had announced a rotation that included Xingang, Qingdao, Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Tanjung Pelepas, Jebel Ali, and Singapore. The itinerary announced for October 2026 reduces the number of stops and replaces the connection with Jebel Ali with a stop in Khor Fakkan.
Maersk has specified that the resumption will be accompanied by the necessary operational precautions in the Middle East. The existing booking restrictions and cargo acceptance conditions will continue to apply, while the company's land transport solutions will complement maritime connections to serve destinations located in the upper gulf area.
The two shipping companies will monitor security conditions in the Middle East and will subject any additional modifications of Gemini Cooperation services to the evolution of the regional situation. The Danish company has also indicated that the protection of crews, vessels, and cargo will continue to influence its operational decisions.
