Port Productivity : Best Practices
Special Report
when Gemini released its initial network last January .
Busan has been included among the direct calls in revised schedules for six trans-Pacific services on both the Suez Canal and Cape of Good Hope options . Vung Tau has been added to three mainline trans-Pacific services via the Suez Canal , but just two on those operating via the Cape of Good Hope .
But even in the new Gemini network , Busan will still lose all its existing mainline calls by Maersk and Hapag- Lloyd on Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean services , instead relying on feeder services to Shanghai and Tanjung Pelepas via Qingdao .
Another significant change is that Hong Kong has now been dropped completely from the Gemini network in the revised plan after it was downgraded to a feeder port in the January schedule . Instead , shippers will have to truck or barge cargo independently of the Gemini carriers if they want to connect with their services at Yantian .
Hutchison Port Holdings has already anticipated a loss of cargo through Hong Kong ’ s Kwai Chung container terminals when some of Maersk ’ s and Hapag-Lloyd ’ s throughput currently handled in Hong Kong will shift to Yantian after the Gemini partnership starts .
“ The clear winner from the announced new networks appears to be the shippers ,” Jensen wrote . “ The networks are quite different in their design , hence offering a more diverse range of products to choose from .”
‘ Reliability , connectivity and sustainability ’
But Peter Sand , chief analyst for rate benchmarking platform Xeneta , said carriers are likely more focused on efficiencies .
“ While we hope for this to improve the service offerings to customers , we also realize that the carriers are optimizing their networks to operational fleet efficiency more than anything else ,” Sand told the Journal of Commerce .
“ As I have said numerous times , each carrier has to focus on its particular strengths because they can ’ t service everyone to the extent that shippers require to be treated ,” he added . “ Even MSC must find partners .”
“ Reliability , connectivity and sustainability are the keywords in the networks we are presenting today , and we are pleased that we now can give our customers full transparency about how we will deliver a best-in-class ocean network so they can begin planning despite a highly dynamic situation ,” Habben Jansen said in a statement announcing the updated network .
“ Each carrier has to focus on its particular strengths because they can ’ t service everyone .”
He previously said Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk would start selling space on the Gemini network in September and start taking bookings from December ahead of Gemini ’ s February launch .
Habben Jansen expected the transition of vessels and ships from the Gemini carriers ’ existing commitments with THE Alliance and 2M Alliance to take about three months . Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said Gemini ’ s schedule reliability target remains unchanged at 90 % irrespective of which network is phased in from February .
email : keithwallis @ hotmail . com
The ports of Busan ( pictured ) and Vung Tau are the main beneficiaries in the new Gemini schedules . Stock for you / Shutterstock . com www . joc . com October 21 , 2024 | Journal of Commerce 33