THE Alliance Members Forge Robust Partnerships

In an attempt to quell widespread speculation about its future, THE Alliance members have issued a statement today, reassuring that their operations will proceed as usual throughout the current year.

A week ago, Hapag-Lloyd surprised its liner counterparts by departing from THE Alliance to establish the Gemini Cooperation alongside Maersk. This shift, slated to commence in February 2025, has downsized THE Alliance, leaving HMM, Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Yang Ming as a part of a more diminished collective. There is considerable speculation about which entities they may seek to invite into their ranks in the coming months.

“In response to recent developments surrounding THE Alliance, which includes member lines Hapag Lloyd, HMM, Yang Ming Marine Transport, and Ocean Network Express, we wish to emphasize our unwavering commitment to maintaining a robust cooperation throughout 2024, ensuring that the highest standards of cooperation and exceptional service are delivered to our stakeholders and the industry at large,” A statement released by the team was made public today.

Last week, in an interview with Splash, Simon Heaney, a senior manager specializing in container research at UK consultancy Drewry, stated, “THE Alliance members are in a jam and will be desperate to fill the Hapag-Lloyd void,”

He recommended that the task of finding a suitable replacement would be difficult in the absence of any leverage.

Lars Jensen, previously employed by Maersk and now working as a liner consultant at Vespucci Maritime, recently highlighted that there is significant pressure on ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming. They are urged to either attract a fresh partner from outside the Ocean Alliance or devise an innovative service approach