A major shipping company has spoken of its "strategic decision" that will see it move trading from Felixstowe to London in 2025.

Leaders from across Suffolk expressed their disappointment that Maersk would leave the port next February.

The shipping giant is the second largest shipping company in the world, behind Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which also operates out of Felixstowe.

Felixstowe is the largest port in the UK but faces a threat from London Gateway in EssexFelixstowe is the largest port in the UK but faces a threat from London Gateway in Essex (Image: Port of Felixstowe) In the shipping industry, companies often share lines and vessels to split costs, these are known as consortia. 

Maersk announced that it would leave it's consortia partnership with MSC called 2M and join Hapag-Lloyd in a new line called the Gemini Cooperation, which would be based at London Gateway rather than Felixstowe.

It has since clarified that it's own operated services will continue to run to and from Felixstowe outside of it's commitments to the Suffolk port.

A spokesperson for Maersk said: "We are not totally leaving the port, this is only for the future Gemini network which we will operate in cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd as from February 2025, and which will replace our existing 2M alliance with MSC.

Maersk will continue to operated out of Felixstowe but the Asia-Europe line will move to London Gateway from 2025Maersk will continue to operated out of Felixstowe but the Asia-Europe line will move to London Gateway from 2025 (Image: Ashley Pickering) "As a part of developing our network for the Gemini Cooperation, which will be launched in February next year, we have alongside Hapag-Lloyd reviewed all ports and terminals in our current networks.

"During this optimisation process and our review of the Asia – Europe services, we have concluded that London Gateway is the most optimal port to serve our customers importing/exporting cargo to/from UK.

"This strategic decision should be seen in the light of our ambition to reduce network complexity with fewer port calls per service, and is aimed at enhancing reliability, reach, and speed for our customers."

The Asia-Europe service is a very financially lucrative shipping line and marks a loss for Felixstowe, threatening thousands of jobs in the area.