A New Alliance Emerges
Ocean Network Express (ONE), Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), and Yang Ming Marine Transportation have announced the formation of a new alliance, the Premier Alliance. This collaboration will encompass the carriers’ mainline services across key trade lanes, connecting Asia with North America’s East and West Coasts, the Mediterranean, North Europe, and the Middle East.
Promising Reliable and Dependable Services
The Premier Alliance aims to offer strong, reliable, and highly dependable end-to-end direct port container services to its customers on both the Transpacific and Asia-Europe trades, according to Jeremy Nixon, CEO of ONE. This new tripartite alliance is set to bring more variety for shippers in terms of network options.
Shaking Up the Ocean Freight Industry
The formation of the Premier Alliance comes at a time when ocean carriers were expected to adjust their networks with the expiration of existing alliances in 2025. This development is a welcome change for shippers, who have been grappling with network-wide disruptions caused by attacks along the Red Sea.
The reshuffling of alliances began when Maersk and MSC announced they would not be renewing their 2M alliance earlier in 2023. This was followed by the formation of the Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, leading to Hapag-Lloyd’s departure from THE Alliance, which included ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming.
The Future of Ocean Freight
With the Ocean Alliance extending its current agreement until 2032 and the recent announcement of a new long-term operational cooperation between Zim and MSC, the landscape of ocean freight is changing. The Premier Alliance is set to have a slot exchange with MSC, involving nine services with expected frequent sailings in Asia to North Europe and Mediterranean trade lanes.
The new networks offer a diverse range of products for shippers to choose from, making them the clear winners in this reshuffling of alliances. The Premier Alliance is set to start operations in 2025, marking a new era in ocean freight.
