Carriers talking new alliance proposal with US authorities

The latest market rumors on the formation of a new global carrier alliance seem to be true as companies that have been left out of the recently announced partnerships are gearing up to reveal a new alliance formation.

Specifically, representatives of the liner companies were scheduled to meet yesterday with the United States Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to discuss their proposal, with an announcement of their plans possibly this week, according to William Doyle, an FMC Commissioner.

“I can tell you that by the end of next week there is a likelihood that another new alliance will be announced.  I will be meeting with ocean carrier representatives next.  It may not include all of the remaining eight carriers, but it could eventually,” Doyle said while speaking at the Intermodal Association of North America in Chicago last week.

There are eight container carriers left out of the two major alliances, the 2M and Ocean Alliance, that could be in the race for the new alliance, those being Hapag-Lloyd, Hanjin, Hyundai Merchant Marine, MOL, NYK, ‘K’ Line, Yang Ming, and UASC, along with Hamburg Sud which has a series of agreements with UASC.

The talks are a response to the formation of the Ocean Alliance made up of CMA CGM, COSCO Container Lines, Evergreen Line and OOCL, leaving CKYHE Alliance and G6 without some of its key members.

The prediction on potential third alliance is line with Drewry’s predictions that by mid-2017, there will be only three main global alliances comprising at the most 13 carriers and replacing the current four alliances- CKYHE Alliance, Ocean Three, G6 and 2M.

The argument is supported by Hapag-Lloyd (G6) confirmation that it was in talks with UASC (Ocean Three for now) about a potential merger of container businesses.



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