Gemini Cooperation earns top honor in The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s ocean carrier performance program

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) announced the results of the second period of its Voyage Consistency & On-Time Arrival Award (VCOTA) Program recognizing international container carriers for schedule reliability and consistent service to the Seattle-Tacoma gateway.

During the second period, which spanned December 2025 through May 2026, the Gemini Cooperation (Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk) claimed first place honors and a $333,333 monetary award for outstanding performance on its WC4 | TP5 service.

Gemini Service, MSC and SM Line Recognized for Exceptional Performance

The Gemini service recorded only one blank sailing over the 26-week period and maintained an average vessel arrival delay of just five hours versus pro forma estimated arrival time.

MSC and SM Line demonstrated exceptional voyage frequency, placing second and third, respectively. However, neither qualified for monetary awards during the period because each carrier’s average delay exceeded the 24-hour monetary receipt threshold.

MSC's California Express service recorded zero blank sailings across the full 26 weeks, providing a consistent and uninterrupted service link to Latin America and Mediterranean markets.

SM Line’s PNS service recorded only one blank sailing and exhibited the second-best voyage frequency in the program and the highest frequency among all transpacific services.

"The Northwest Seaport Alliance extends our sincere appreciation to the Gemini Cooperation, MSC and SM Line for their outstanding participation in the Voyage Consistency & On-Time Arrival Award Program," said NWSA Co-Chair and Port of Seattle Commission President Ryan Calkins. "When a vessel arrives on time, the whole system benefits – terminals run more efficiently, trucks move faster and cargo reaches its destination on schedule.”

"The Gemini Cooperation set a remarkable standard this period, and we’re proud to recognize MSC and SM Line for their outstanding voyage frequency,” said NWSA Co-Chair and Port of Tacoma Commission President Dick Marzano. "Reliability at the vessel level creates real value for every business moving cargo through our gateway and supports economic activity across our region.”

Why Carrier Consistency Matters

Reliable vessel arrivals are foundational to efficient port operations. When vessels arrive on schedule, the benefits cascade across the entire supply chain, enabling the NWSA to provide best-in-class service. The landside benefits include:

• Consistent departure schedules that allow exporters to plan around reliable earliest return dates (ERDs)
• Better cargo fluidity at the terminals enables faster vessel turns and berth utilization
• Improved labor planning for terminal operators, reducing idle time and overtime costs
• Lower truck turn times as yard congestion decreases and gate appointment windows become more predictable
• Predictable railcar flow that keeps container dwell low and reduces demurrage exposure for beneficial cargo owners

As global supply chains continue to grapple with disruption and demand volatility, both importers and exporters are placing greater importance on schedule integrity. The VCOTA program reflects the NWSA's commitment to incentivizing and rewarding the carrier behavior that best supports supply chain resilience.

Program continues through 2027

Now in its third year, the VCOTA program has been renewed through 2027. On June 2, 2026, the NWSA’s Managing Members approved a $1 million commitment for the 2026-27 program cycle. The upcoming program will be divided into two equal periods, July through December and January through June, maintaining the semi-annual structure that allows carriers and stakeholders to track progress throughout the year.

The NWSA appreciates all international carriers for their involvement in the program. Domestic carriers, while not eligible for this program, also play a vital role in the NWSA gateway and have shown strong on-time arrival performance this year. The NWSA uses eeSea as a third-party provider of vessel arrival times and assistance with proforma schedules.