2M Carrier Alliance Set To Disband

Maersk Line and MSC, the world's two biggest steamship lines, have announced they will end their 2M Alliance vessel sharing agreement from 2025.

Courtesy of a joint statement, the carriers advised: “MSC and Maersk recognise that much has changed since the two companies signed the 10-year agreement in 2015. Discontinuing the 2M Alliance paves the way for both companies to continue to pursue their individual strategies.”

2M is one of three carrier alliances that dominate global container shipping and is arguably the most influential. The current alliances have remained fairly consistent since the demise of the major carrier Hanjin, back in 2016/7, with one or two movements along the way.

MSC seem hell bent on increasing the size of their fleet, after taking over from Maersk as the largest carrier in recent years. They may well be looking to become a standalone carrier, without the need for vessel sharing partnerships.

However, Maersk seem more likely to seek out alternative alliance arrangements, even after recently announcing the retirement of their historic brands, such as Hamburg Sud and Sealand.

The 2M split may initiate a shake up of the industry during the next few months or years, and Croft Cargo will be following developments with great interest.

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