Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Islamic Port has strengthened its position as a key hub for the AE15 and AE19 services of Gemini Cooperation, a long-term operational ocean freight partnership launched in February 2025 between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) recently announced.

The AE19 service connects Jeddah Islamic Port with Shanghai, Qingdao, and Ningbo in China, Busan in Korea, and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia. The route also includes the Suez Canal, Port Said in Egypt, Tangier in Morocco, and Singapore.

The AE15 service connects Jeddah Islamic Port with Qingdao and Ningbo in China, Gwangyang in Korea, and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia. The route also includes the Suez Canal, Port Said and Damietta in Egypt, Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

The two services have been updated to transit the Bab Al Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal, strengthening direct maritime links between Saudi Arabia and major Asian and European markets, according to a statement from the authority.

The AE19 service will now call at Jeddah Islamic Port twice—once on its west-bound voyage from Asia towards the Mediterranean and again on its return voyage southward. The arrangement is aimed at providing more flexibility for cargo flows to and from Saudi Arabia.

The revision reduces the full operating rotation from 16 weeks to 14 weeks, while maintaining regular weekly sailings. This will improve fleet efficiency and enhance the efficiency of services provided to importers and exporters, according to media reports in the Middle East.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)