2M Alliance: MSC & Maersk Intentions Clear

Earlier this month, we told you that the 2M Alliance was going to come to an end and there would be no more vessel sharing between the world's two biggest ocean freight carriers.

Subsequently, the intentions of both MSC and Maersk have become clearer and we are unlikely to see the shake up of the industry that was first thought.

It initially seemed probable that MSC would rely on their own capabilities and that Maersk may seek alternative partnerships. However, it now appears that both 2M partners will proceed as standalone carriers by operating their own vessels independently.

Maersk's CEO gave us the biggest clue when recently saying “Today there are three major networks, in the future there will be four.”

The three current networks are the 2M Alliance, THE Alliance and the OCEAN Alliance. Therefore, it is not hard to deduce that he means both Maersk and MSC will be running independently and effectively creating four networks.

The companies have announced their split will occur in 2025, although both parties are likely to be working towards their own goals from now. So, we will not be surprised to see changes on some routes much earlier than advertised.

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