COSCO Shipping, CMA CGM, Evergreen Line and OOCL have added five years to the collective deal that had previously been agreed through 2027
The four members of the Ocean Alliance signed documents in Shanghai, China, agreeing to extend the OCEAN Alliance for five years, until 31 March 2032.
"Ocean Alliance would like to deliver a clear and positive signal to our customers, to ensure stable and reliable service, with the confirmation of at least five years’ co-operation extension. We are convinced that as a sustainable and responsible alliance, we can provide continuous high-quality transport to our customers and contribute to a globally stable supply chain, in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations," the group said.
Calling themselves the world’s largest shipping network, the group said it offers the "most extensive port coverage," covering the seven major East/West trades, mainly connecting Asia to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the East and West coasts of North America.
The Ocean Alliance was created and launched in 2017, with an initial agreement to co-operate for 10 years.
In January 2024, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced they would join to form an alliance called the Gemini Cooperation in 2025. That alliance will consist of a fleet pool of nearly 300 vessels in a roughly 60/40% split between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd vessels, respectively.
Maersk and MSC had announced in January 2023 that their current alliance, called 2M, would be dissolved at the end of January 2025. Upon joining Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd will leave THE Alliance at the end of January 2025.
Gemini Cooperation will start in February 2025, with both companies saying they are carefully planning the transition and providing dedicated operational teams to manage integration into the new alliance.
Like the Ocean Alliance, Gemini Cooperation will cover seven trades: Asia-US West Coast, Asia-US East Coast, Asia-Middle East, Asia-Mediterranean, Asia-North Europe, India-Europe and Transatlantic.
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