by Lloyd's List

27 February 2025 (Lloyd's List) - THE Premier Alliance of HMM, Ocean Network Express and Yang Ming will launch on February 9 after receiving the green light from the US Federal Maritime Commission.

An initial launch was planned for February 1, but a request for additional information from the FMC delayed the new alliance’s first sailings.

The commission wanted more data to understand the alliance’s impact on competitiveness, after the initial submission by the three lines filed on October 28, 2024, lacked “sufficient detail to allow for a complete analysis of potential competitive impacts and whether the agreement fully complies with all statutory requirements”.

The new information provided by the alliance was deemed “responsive” by the regulator on December 26, and as a result the Premier Alliance will automatically take effect on February 9, by which a 45-day period for FMC to respond will have elapsed.

HMM, ONE and Yang Ming launched the Premier Alliance following the departure of Hapag-Lloyd from The Alliance when it teamed up with Maersk to form the Gemini Cooperation.

The agreement between the three companies lasts for five years and also includes a separate agreement with the world’s largest container line, Mediterranean Shipping Co.

Despite the departure of Hapag-Lloyd from The Alliance, the new Premier Alliance has maintained its market share on the key transpacific route, Sea Intelligence chief executive Alan Murphy said. 

The same is true on the Asia-North America east coast route too, where the Premier Alliance just beats the Gemini Cooperation by 0.2% in capacity share.