Washington demands more information from Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd over Gemini creation

Throwing a kink in their launch plans, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have been asked to provide more information about the creation of the Gemini Cooperation.

The two European containerlines are joining forces from next year to create a new liner grouping, which still needs regulatory approval from around the world. 

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in Washington DC has asked the pair for additional information. The FMC said it needed clarity on matters that were not addressed by the filing parties, claiming that the information provided thus far lacks sufficient detail to allow for a complete analysis of the Gemini Cooperation’s potential competitive impacts.   

Analysts at Danish liner consultancy Sea-Intelligence played down the impact of the FMC’s intervention, noting in its latest weekly report: “At this point, this development should not be seen as threatening to the Gemini Cooperation, but more of an administrative burden to be lifted.” 

The operational implementation of the Gemini Cooperation is not until February next year.