Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Asian Shippers Council News

09 Oct 2014

Maersk and MSC Ship-Sharing Pact Gets U.S. Clearance

Top container shipping companies A.P. Moller-Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co cleared the last regulatory hurdle to launch a vessel-sharing pact, but companies that use their services voiced concerns, particularly in China. The tie-up won U.S. approval on Wednesday after four out of five commissioners at the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) voted not to seek further information from the two shippers about the impact of the alliance on exporters and ports, one of the commissioners told Reuters. Maersk said the approval had been the last it needed from regulators around the world, including in China and the European Union, and that the alliance would begin operations in January.

09 Oct 2014

Maersk, MSC Win U.S. OK to Launch Shipping Pact

Richard Lidinsky Jr, Federal Maritime Commission commissioner (Source: FMC)

Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), the world's two largest container shippers, won approval from U.S. maritime regulators for a planned vessel sharing pact, bringing it a step closer after a bid for a larger alliance failed. The so-called 2M alliance would see the two carriers pool 185 ships on European, transatlantic and transpacific services, which Maersk Line says would save it $350 million a year. The proposal follows the rejection in June of a larger planned venture involving Maersk, MSC and France's CMA CGM by China's Ministry of Commerce on competition grounds.

30 Sep 2013

Asian Shippers Weigh in Against Container Weighing

Image courtesy of Maersk Line

THE Asian Shippers' Council (ASC) renewed its attack on the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) over compulsory container weight verification partly because it is hard on shippers in emerging markets. "There are millions of shippers across Asia, with different levels of maturity and different operational constraints. Cargoes have multiple modes of transport - trucks, ships and/or rail. Can you imagine trying to implement what is agreed at the IMO in such a challenging environment?" said ASC chairman John Lu.