18 Sep 2026
To continue delivering stable and reliable connectivity between Asia and Australia, Maersk will introduce a temporary operational adjustment on our Qilin service covering 10 sailings 641S to 650S. This contingency measure is designed to mitigate the impact of prolonged vessel waiting times and weather-related disruptions affecting operations in the Shanghai area, while maintaining coverage of both Melbourne and Sydney.
What is changing?
Effective with GSL ELIZABETH 641S, arriving in Shanghai on 9th October 2026.
The service rotation will operate as follows: Shanghai - Hong Kong – Melbourne/Sydney
Under this adjustment, Melbourne and Sydney calls will alternate on consecutive sailings, with Hong Kong added as connection port. Cargo will continue to be supported through Maersk's integrated network, utilizing connections between the Qilin and Dragon services via Hong Kong where required. The first five sailings are illustrated below.
| Sailing | Vessel name | Voyage | Shanghai ETB | Hong Kong ETB | Melbourne ETB | Sydney ETB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | GSL ELIZABETH | 641S | 2026-10-09 | 2026-10-14 | 2026-10-28 | - |
| 2nd | CAPE SERRAT | 642S | 2026-10-16 | 2026-10-21 | - | 2026-11-07 |
| 3rd | AS CAMELLIA | 643S | 2026-10-23 | 2026-10-28 | 2026-11-11 | - |
| 4th | CAPITAINE BARET | 644S | 2026-10-30 | 2026-11-04 | - | 2026-11-21 |
| 5th | DELOS WAVE | 645S | 2026-11-06 | 2026-11-11 | 2026-11-25 | - |
We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as more information becomes available. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your continued partnership.
If you require any further information or assistance, please contact your local Maersk representative. We remain committed to supporting you throughout this situation.
