The structure of the global container shipping alliance next year is set for a further shake-up after MSC unveiled its new standalone east-west service network and revealed it has concluded a vessel-sharing agreement (VSA) with THE Alliance, covering nine Asia-Europe services
The pivot point is February 2025, when the 2M partnership of MSC and Maersk is set to disband, while at the same time Hapag-Lloyd will depart THE Alliance to form the Gemini Cooperation with Maersk – at which point, the remaining three THE Alliance carriers – ONE, Yang Ming and HMM – will rebrand as the Premier Alliance and enter into a slot-share agreement with MSC covering the Asia-Europe trades.
In a parallel development, MSC has also signed a three-year VSA with Zim on the transpacific trade.
“We are very pleased to announce this new strategic partnership with MSC, who is the leading carrier in the Asia-Europe trade,” ONE chief executive Jeremy Nixon said.
“Collectively, the Premier Alliance and MSC, will be able to offer a very capable and extensive network of end-to-end port services to its customers from February 2025.
“We look forward to this new cooperation with MSC, and both collaborating on our respective joint operational expertise and combined network synergies,” he added.
Meanwhile, today also saw Israeli carrier ZIM announce that it and MSC had concluded a vessel-sharing agreement on the Asia-North America east coast trade.
In concert with the agreement, the Premier Alliance carriers published their new network for 2025, and MSC did likewise, including the remaining deepsea trades where it intends to continue as a standalone carrier.
According to ONE, the Premier Alliance members are set to offer six transpacific services into the US Pacific South-west, and three into the Pacific north-west range, as well as four Asia-North America east coast services.
In a related development, MSC and Zim have signed a three-year VSA agreement between Asia and the North America east and Gulf coast services, covering MSC’s six services on the trade – the America/Z7S, Emerald/ZXB, Empire/ZNS, Amberjack/ZCP, Lone Star/ZGC, and Pelican/ZSL, while Zim’s two transpacific express services between China and California will remain independent.
“This important collaboration reflects ZIM’s commitment to both delivering an outstanding shipping solution to its customers, and taking continuous proactive steps to enhance efficiencies in our network,” Zim president and chief executive Eli Glickman said.
“It is the direct outcome of our fleet renewal programme which has greatly enhanced Zim’s competitive position, particularly on the Asia to US East Coast trade.
“We are pleased to, once again, join forces with MSC, an industry leader and Zim’s long-standing trusted partner, to augment our network while upholding our customer-centric approach and commitment to the highest levels of service,” he added.
Details please refer to the Loadstar news.
Source:
Marle, G. van. (2024, September 9). New strings attached – shipping shapes up for 2025 with Premier Alliance launch. The Loadstar. https://theloadstar.com/new-strings-attached-shape-up-for-2025-with-premier-alliance-launch/