The alliance between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd planned from February 2025 has been approved by the US competition authority FMC.
If a new alliance is formed, the regulatory authorities in all key target regions must give their approval. This applies to the EU, China and also the USA, one of the world’s most important markets. The competition authority there, the FMC, has now given the “green light”.
FMC keeps Gemini under observation
The purpose of the review is to assess the impact on competition and to prevent any “undue” increase in transportation costs” or a reduction in transportation services. “At this stage, the Commission has no reason to seek an injunction against the cooperation agreement. However, the FMC has also announced that it will continue to monitor “Gemini” comprehensively and constantly in future.
The agreement between the two new partners was submitted to the Commission in May. In July, the FMC requested further information. According to the law, the Commission has a maximum of 45 days to examine a newly submitted agreement or the responses to a “Request for Additional Information” (RFAI) before the agreement comes into force.
Gemini promises 90% punctuality
The two Gemini partners have provided more concrete details about the network five months before the launch. Accordingly, 27 to 29 mainliner services and a further 30 intra-regional shuttle services are planned. The cooperation will jointly operate up to 340 ships. The exact figures are still subject to change and depend on whether the crisis in the Red Sea continues or has ended by then.
The aim is to achieve schedule reliability of over 90% immediately from the start in February 2025, the statement continues. “Reliability, connectivity and sustainability are the key concepts for us,” says Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd.
