Early yesterday morning, emerging from the thick port fog, the container ship Api Bhum appeared at the berth of Gdynia Container Terminal. This marked the inaugural call of a vessel under the Gemini Cooperation alliance, jointly operated by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

The 294-meter Api Bhum arrived at the GCT terminal in the Port of Gdynia on Thursday morning. Registered in Singapore, the vessel officially launched the PGS service operated by Gemini Cooperation — a strategic alliance between two container shipping giants: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

"The Api Bhum was in Gdańsk yesterday and arrived this morning in Gdynia at our GCT terminal. This is the first call of the new Gemini Cooperation service, a partnership between two very well-known and significant carriers: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd," confirmed Jan Jarmakowski, Managing Director of GCT. "As you can see, all our cranes are working on this ship. We have 24 hours to complete the operation because the goal of this alliance is to maintain very high punctuality — around 90%."

Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk announced their plans to form the Gemini Cooperation alliance in January 2024. The partnership covers seven trade lanes and includes 32 dedicated shuttle services, 13 of which are in Europe. In total, around 290 vessels operate under the alliance worldwide, with a combined capacity of 3.4 million TEU — 60% provided by Maersk and 40% by Hapag-Lloyd.

Api Bhum called at Gdynia as part of the PGS (Poland Germany Shuttle) service under Gemini Cooperation. Vessels on this route will now call weekly in Gdynia, operating a fixed schedule between Gdynia, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven.

"This inaugural call at the Port of Gdynia highlights Hapag-Lloyd’s commitment to service development and enhancing efficiency for our valued customers. Through the integration of advanced routing and scheduling systems, the Gemini Shuttle will optimize vessel utilization and reduce port idle times, resulting in smoother and faster transit times for cargo," stated Alina Angielczyk, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Area North, and Jan Jarmakowski, Managing Director of Gdynia Container Terminal, in a joint statement.

According to Hapag-Lloyd, the new service will offer customers higher-quality, more reliable, and efficient transport solutions, helping to reduce the risk of supply chain disruptions. The launch of the new service from Gdynia is also significant for the local logistics and maritime environment.

"I believe the inaugural call of the Gemini service to the Port of Gdynia is a very important event, as it confirms Gdynia’s key role in the global container shipping network. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are top-tier global carriers, and we are very pleased to continue supporting these important clients of the Hutchison Ports Group and the GCT terminal here in Gdynia," added Jan Jarmakowski.