Maersk Shifts Operations from Felixstowe to London Gateway: A Game-Changer for the Container Shipping Industry
Maersk has made headlines in the container shipping industry by announcing that starting February 2025, it will shift its large containership operations, along with those of its new partner Hapag-Lloyd, from the Port of Felixstowe to the smaller London Gateway. This move is a significant setback for Hutchinson Ports, which operates Felixstowe, especially as DP World has been rapidly competing with it through the London Gateway Terminal.
In an operational advisory released on November 18, Maersk stated that it is replacing Felixstowe with London Gateway as part of the launch of the new Gemini Cooperation in February, which aims to achieve an unprecedented industry schedule reliability of 90 percent.
Источник: Hutchison Ports
The two shipping lines are branding their collaboration as “The Network of the Future.” Maersk informed its customers that this change will impact the Asia–Europe trade, which will now be routed through London Gateway, while the trans-Atlantic route will continue to operate from Southampton. Maersk has been a significant presence at Felixstowe, typically operating two ships per week and contributing to nearly 2 000 ship calls annually at the port.
Maersk explained that this strategic decision is intended to simplify network operations by focusing on single operator loops and reducing the number of port calls per service, ultimately enhancing reliability, reach, and speed for customers. They did not specify the exact timing of the transition but indicated it would coincide with the phasing out of the current 2M alliance with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.
Felixstowe, one of the UK’s oldest ports, has its origins dating back to 1886, although modern operations began in 1969, with a second terminal opening in 1986. It currently handles over 4 million TEUs annually.
In contrast, the London Gateway, which opened in November 2013, is strategically located on the River Thames, just 28 miles from London, and currently processes about 2 million TEUs each year. The decision to move operations to London Gateway is a significant victory for DP World, which operates the port. In August, DP World announced a £1 billion ($1,3 billion) investment to expand the facility, aiming to increase its capacity and bolster the UK’s international trade resilience. This includes the installation of new cranes to support a 50 percent increase in handling capacity.
The investment will fund the construction of two additional berths and a second rail terminal, with the goal of transforming London Gateway into the largest port in the UK, accounting for 55 percent of the cargo flow through the southeast region. Recently, DP World also launched a fourth berth at the facility, built at a cost of £350 million ($451 million).
