Grand Alliance Announces New Cooperation

The member lines of the Grand Alliance (GA) and The New World Alliance (TNWA) announced their agreement to cooperate on key trades from early 2006. This cooperation is designed to significantly broaden the respective Alliances' capabilities, network coverage and schedule frequency, with improved service efficiency and wider choice for customers of the respective Alliances. The member lines of the Grand Alliance [Hapag-Lloyd Container Line (HLCL), MISC Berhad (MISC), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL)], and The New World Alliance [APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Mitsui O.S.K Lines Ltd.], will initially exchange slots in the Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean trades, and introduce a new jointly-operated loop on the Asia-East Coast of North America, via Panama trade. At a later stage, the members of the two Alliances may further expand the scope of their co-operation through additional joint services. Grand Alliance representatives said that the members are committed to providing first-class service, and that the co-operation with TNWA members will create an exceptionally strong product to meet customers' needs, as well as generate further efficiencies. TNWA representatives said, "With the most modern fleet in the world and largest number of Post-Panamax vessels, the co-operation between the two Alliances will result in increased and enhanced services. Working together will enable us to deliver better and more flexible product and service options for our customers - particularly as new containerships delivered to our companies in 2006 and 2007 are integrated into the fleet." "Our focus is on working together to deliver a high-quality product across the markets where we co-operate - building increasingly comprehensive network coverage that meets the needs of our customers as they grow and develop their businesses globally," the representatives from both Alliances said.