Network of the Future

Setting a new standard for reliability and service quality from February 2025.

High reliability
Global coverage
Faster response

About the Network

The Network of the Future is designed to create a more reliable and efficient shipping experience. By reducing port calls on our mainliners, enhancing our shuttle services and leveraging state-of-the-art hubs, we aim to deliver industry-leading reliability on East West trades with market relevant transit times. This new network reflects our commitment to strengthen your supply chain with resilience and flexibility.

Delivering for our customers

With the Network of the Future, we are working to meet the following goals for our customers:

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Ambitious Reliability Targets

Ambition to give industry-leading reliability of aimed for 90%+ once the new network is fully phased in

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Reach

An efficient, far-reaching global network with seamless access to a wide range of products and services

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Speed

Competitive transit times, plus fast response to disruptions and demand changes

Serving the world

The Network of the Future covers the Ocean freight network on East West trades and will go live 01 February 2025. The ambition is to reduce network complexity with mostly single operator loops and fewer port calls per service, and incorporate terminals with the highest level of productivity and operational efficiency.

The network will consist of 29 lean and efficient ocean mainliner services, and an extensive network of agile, interregional shuttle services. It covers the Asia / US West Coast, Asia / US East Coast, Asia / Middle East, Asia / Mediterranean, Asia / North Europe, Middle East – India / Europe and Transatlantic trade scopes.

After thorough consideration and given the continued safety concerns in the Red Sea, it has been decided to phase in our Cape of Good Hope network for the commencement of the Gemini Cooperation on February 01, 2025. As the situation remains highly dynamic, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will return to the Red Sea as soon as it is safe to do so.

The Gemini Cooperation

To deliver our Network of the Future, we have entered a long-term operational collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd called the Gemini Cooperation. We will prioritise reliability and ensure our new network supports our ambitious sustainability goals.

Our expertise, fleet, terminal asset base, and network vision are complementary, ensuring that this partnership will make a real difference to our customers, our business, and the wider industry.

Maersk and Hapag Llyod

Aiming to offer industry-leading ocean reliability

Ocean connectivity

Ocean connectivity

Our new network’s goal is to deliver a well-connected ocean network that aims to provide unmatched and industry-leading reliability above 90 percent for services under the Gemini scope of trades, when the new network is fully phased in. Reliability will be achieved through a ground-breaking and fundamentally different network design and high-performing hubs.

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Leaner mainliner services

Our mainliner services will be ‘leaner’, as they will have on average almost half the amount of port calls per service rotation compared to today. This means the average number of stops a container will make between the origin and final destination will decrease significantly.

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Reliable shuttle connectivity

Our intraregional shuttles will connect hub terminals to strategic gateways, from which mainliners depart, and will mostly have 2 port calls per service, giving more reliability to logistics moves. The hubs linking mainliners and shuttles demonstrate exceptional productivity and reliability. APM Terminals and Hapag-Lloyd have equity presence and a level of operational control in the majority of these hubs and will continue to invest in seamless and efficient connectivity.

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Strategic hub advantage

APMT hub terminals are located as ‘pearls on a string’ on the main route from Asia to Europe. This is unique, and combined with a +30% capacity expansion, constitutes an unmatched advantage. The hub objective and deliverables are to make transshipment a seamless enabler for fast and efficient turn of boxes, and an integrated part of the network.

Access our broad range of ocean products

Starting 01 February 2025, no matter how you book your ocean transport with us, whether through Maersk Contract, Maersk Spot or Maersk Go, your cargo will be shipped using Network of the Future on the East West trades. This also applies to both Full-Container Load (FCL) and Less-than-Container Load (LCL) bookings.

As always, you can easily enhance your ocean shipment with our value-added services like Verified Gross Mass, Freetime Extension, Value Protect, Container Protect, Premium Quality Containers and Garments on Hanger. Learn more about our ocean products.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Understanding how the Network of the Future will work

Read more on how the Network of the Future will set itself apart as a best-in-class ocean network.