Seven Carriers Joining Forces in New Alliance?

As the topic on the formation of the new global carrier alliance heats up, new details have emerged on the members of the upcoming vessel-sharing partnership.

Specifically, almost all eight carriers left out of the already announced partnership agreements are expected to join forces, with the exception of the Dubai-based United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), which is in merger talks with German counterpart Hapag Lloyd. UASC is expected to join once the talks are completed.

Neither UASC nor Hapag Lloyd could comment on the matter when asked by World Maritime News.

This leaves Japanese trio of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines; Hapag-Lloyd, South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping  and Hyundai Merchant Marine and Taiwan’s Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp, according to the latest report from the Wall Street Journal citing sources familiar with the matter.

According to the unnamed source, the carriers have been in talks over their alliance plans with U.S., Chinese and European regulators and an announcement is expected by Friday.

Representatives of the liner companies are reported to had met yesterday with the United States Federal Maritime Commission to discuss their proposal, with an announcement of their plans possible by the end of the week.

“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,” William Doyle, an FMC Commissioner, said while speaking at the Intermodal Association of North America on May 5, 2016 in Chicago.

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.

World Maritime News Staff