Gemini Cooperation to Call at Egypt’s Damietta Alliance Terminal

The Gemini Cooperation will begin calling at Egypt’s new Damietta Alliance Terminal as the facility nears commissioning, according to DynaLiners (Container News). The terminal — operated by a joint venture between Eurogate/Contship and Hapag-Lloyd — will be integrated into Gemini’s SE3/AE15 and JD3/Jeddah3 services, expanding the alliance’s eastern Mediterranean footprint.

The addition aligns with Gemini’s strategy of routing services through terminals where alliance partners hold operational stakes or equity. Maritime analyst Eleanor Hadland estimated in September 2024 that approximately 70% of Gemini’s port calls involve terminals operated by Maersk or Hapag-Lloyd, or where either line holds significant shareholding (Seatrade Maritime). Hapag-Lloyd’s participation in the Damietta joint venture ensures preferential berth access — a core component of the alliance’s reliability positioning.

Damietta’s location positions the terminal as a potential transhipment node linking mainline Asia-Europe services with intra-Mediterranean routes. The JD3/Jeddah3 service integration is particularly relevant given that Jeddah is currently served via shuttle connections; a direct Damietta call could streamline regional cargo flows. The terminal’s commissioning date and capacity specifications were not disclosed. Gemini’s ME11 service has already confirmed a return to Suez Canal transits, with vessels scheduled to route through the Red Sea under naval escort from mid-February 2026 (Seatrade Maritime).