DP World Southampton Receives First Gemini Cooperation Ship

• MV Leonidio arrived at DP World Southampton under the Gemini Cooperation agreement.
• The initiative, led by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, enhances East-West shipping efficiency.
• DP World’s London Gateway will manage Middle East-Europe and Asia-Europe services.
• Industry leaders highlight the importance of network reliability and strong partnerships.

DP World Southampton has welcomed its first ship under the Gemini Cooperation agreement, marking a key milestone in the partnership between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. The MV Leonidio arrived on 3 February as part of its initial rotation on the Gemini Transatlantic AL1/AT3 service, which includes stops at major European ports such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Wilhelmshaven before crossing the Atlantic to call at ports in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Saint John. The service is further supported by DP World’s multimodal UK network, enhancing seamless connectivity between Southampton and key inland destinations.

The Gemini Cooperation, announced in January 2024, aims to improve the reliability of East-West shipping by reducing port congestion and adopting a hub-and-spoke network model. As part of this strategy, all Middle East-Europe and Asia-Europe services will now be handled at DP World’s London Gateway, while Southampton will serve as the hub for Transatlantic operations. The first Gemini ship on the Asia-Europe service is expected to arrive at London Gateway in the coming weeks.

Commitment to Logistics Innovation

DP World UK’s CEO, Ernst Schulze, highlighted the company’s commitment to enhancing global trade efficiency by investing in Southampton and London Gateway as leading logistics hubs. To showcase their capabilities, DP World is hosting weekly “Insight Days” at London Gateway, offering customers insights into its deep-sea berths, rail terminal, and extensive port infrastructure.

Industry Leaders on Network Reliability

Gary Jeffreys, Managing Director of Maersk UK & Ireland, emphasized that the Gemini network is designed to withstand modern global disruptions, including geopolitical uncertainties and climate challenges. He noted that partnerships with terminal operators like DP World are key to restoring shipping schedule reliability.

Cameron Bowie, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd UK & Ireland, reaffirmed the network’s ambition to achieve over 90% reliability by summer 2025. He stressed that Gemini’s success depends on strong collaborations with ports and terminal operators, ensuring seamless global shipping operations.