The first vessel has arrived at Jebel Ali Port under the Gemini Cooperation as DP World joins Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk in their strategic partnership to improve ocean freight infrastructure and worldwide trading connections.
On February 5, the MV Houston Express arrived at Jebel Ali Port bringing the 15,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containership to this essential Gemini network position. The vessel is part of the Indian Ocean Service, strengthening trade links between the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East and North and South Europe.
To commemorate the occasion, DP World and Hapag-Lloyd senior management hosted a special reception at Jebel Ali Port, underscoring the port’s pivotal role in global supply chains.
Read more: DP World’s Jebel Ali sets new record with 1.4 million TEUs in July 2024
Transformative partnership
The Gemini Cooperation is a transformative partnership between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, designed to create a highly efficient and reliable ocean freight network across seven trade lanes. Furthermore, the network features 57 mainliner and shuttle services, operating approximately 340 modern vessels, many of which are transitioning to cleaner fuels.
Shahab Al Jassmi, senior vice president, Ports & Terminals Commercial, DP World GCC, said: “The arrival of the first Gemini Cooperation vessel at Jebel Ali Port reinforces our position as the leading maritime hub in the Middle East. The efficiency and resilience of our port operations, coupled with the advanced logistics capabilities of our hub, are critical factors that make DP World a trusted partner for shipping lines.”
“The Gemini network is set to enhance supply chain resilience across the global trade network, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership,” Al Jassmi also noted.
Fast and reliable ocean network
Christiaan Goeman Borgesius, senior director Operations Region Middle East, Hapag-Lloyd, said: “With the Gemini network now live, we are happy to see the first Hapag-Lloyd vessel, MV Houston Express, arrive in Dubai.”
“For over a year, teams have worked diligently to bring Gemini to life, and today’s achievement is a testament to those efforts,” Borgesius further noted.
Moreover, designed to create a fast, flexible, and reliable ocean network, Gemini is centered around strategic hubs, and having a strong network of ports and terminals like Jebel Ali Port is key to achieving our vision.”
