More than nine months into the Gemini Cooperation, schedule reliability above industry averages has been achieved and doubts about sustainability are fading, the company claims, reports London's S&P Global.

The key question is whether Gemini partners Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd can extract premium revenue from shippers. Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc told analysts last week that premium pricing is likely, but trust in Gemini's reliability must be further established.

Mr Clerc said a longer track record is needed to unlock value for shippers that carriers can then capture. Yet the cost savings alone may justify the network overhaul. Maersk cited annualized savings of US$720 million to $950 million from lower bunker costs and greater asset utilisation.

Higher ship utilisation and shorter sailing distances have delivered six per cent more capacity with three per cent less fuel consumption. Clerc said running ships at higher utilisation allows more volumes to be transported at the same capacity, creating a significant cost advantage.

The revenue side remains uncertain. Ocean carriers have struggled for decades to secure premium pricing despite investments in reliability. Examples such as Daily Maersk showed that weak markets often undercut efforts to charge more for on-time services.

Some carriers including Matson, UWL, Zim and Tailwind have offered premium-priced services on Asia-Europe trades, and certain shippers have paid extra for preferential stowage. Hapag-Lloyd's regional president Stuart Sandlin said Gemini should command a premium, citing inventory savings for customers.

Mr Clerc added that shippers must trust Gemini's steadiness to reduce buffer stocks, pocket savings and allow carriers to capture part of that value. For Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, Gemini aligns with their strategies, echoing hub-and-spoke models and reinforcing commitments to service quality and reliability.

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