As waters calm around and in the Red Sea, Maersk has implemented a structural return to the trans-Suez route on the Maersk MECL service as well as the ME11, a part of the Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

But what does this change mean for Maersk customers and companies wishing to move their products at large? How are shipping companies able to support and address the situation currently under development in the Red Sea?

A landscape marked by persistent uncertainty

During times of continuous uncertainty and geopolitical instability, Maersk is, just like many carriers in the same situation, working to identify ways to support businesses to carry on with their strategies for 2026. As your insightful partner, we utilise our extended, global network and expertise to support our customers and collaborate with our partners to find solutions to challenges through an array of smart, tailored products and services that can help with current disruptions. We strive to find the perfect fit for you and identify opportunities in managing their cargo flows.

Solutions from a trusted partner

Disruptions are never easy, but we love to solve logistics puzzles. A shift to a different routing from the Cape of Good Hope to a Trans-Suez route can result in some minor possible port backlogs and congestions, which calls for foresight solutions to be implemented to manage uncertainty, provide clarity, making the unknown known as early as possible.

As Maersk’s MECL and ME11 return to the Red Sea, how can businesses prepare? What solutions are there to help?

We have a list of products that can support in this situation; a three-step journey with visibility tools, tracking solutions and additional products to manage alternatives to see and anticipate:

• Maersk Risk Management: Real time risk visibility with a view of current, emerging and forecasted disruptions, true exposure awareness through shipment data for impact and actionable clarity via context-rich insights to support any suggested decision.
• Maersk Visibility Studio, which includes:
  • Tracking shipments across Ocean and Air: with best-in-class data quality through data aggregation, multi-carrier ocean and air tracking across modes and carriers including haulage for rail, road and barge.
  • Port intelligence: tracking congestions at post terminal level on 840+ ports and terminals worldwide and predicting shipment delays.
  • Detention and Demurrage (D&D) optimisation: advanced visibility to identify detention and demurrage hot spots, quantify and optimise costs based on free-day and fees, as well as predicting D&D risks to unlock mitigative actions.

Additional logistics solutions and services

To complete a supporting strategy of seeing and anticipating disruptions, additional logistics solutions and services can be implemented to mitigate the arrival of containers at a clogged port and bypassing congested windows detected.

• Maersk Cargo Insurance: An insurance policy that will cover most types of cargo, from warehouse-to-warehouse with greater ease, hassle-free claims settlement and curated insurance products designed for any needs and routes.
• Maersk Inland: Seamless, smooth, end-to-end inland transport of containerised and non-containerised cargo. Covering all sizes and types of shipments, collecting from and delivering to inland locations with precision and care.
• Maersk Custom Services: Global trade and customs consulting services ensuring simplified imports and exports anywhere in the world. Providing a smooth compliance process, end-to-end integration, and a global network of customs experts to help keep your goods moving round the clock.
• Maersk Contract Logistics: End-to-end warehousing and distribution services, cold storage and more, all managed seamlessly through a global network of strategically located storage facilities.
• Premium Quality Containers: This provides an extra layer of protection, ensuring that every shipment reaches its destination in the highest possible quality.

What steps can be taken?

As your trusted partner, we are here to help you succeed. If you are looking for some of the above-mentioned solutions to strengthen your supply chain, get in contact with your local Maersk representative here: https://www.maersk.com/contact/email-us

Be ready for resilience to go all the way! Stay ahead with expert updates on the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden situation here and discover more industry knowledge on global and local logistics with Maersk Logistics Insights.