International Shipping Firms Form New Alliance

Photo: HMM.

Three Asia-based global shipping lines, Singapore-headquartered Ocean Network Express (ONE), South Korea’s HMM (formerly known as Hyundai Merchant Marine) and Yang Ming Marine Transportation of Taiwan, plan to cooperate under a new cooperative called the Premier Alliance for five years starting in February 2025, the firms announced Sept. 9.

The alliance plans to focus on major East-West trade routes, including Asia-North America, Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean, and is expected by industry observers to have a major impact on global trade and shipping routes.

“The close network collaboration that exists between the three companies will be further strengthened and enhanced under this new collaboration,” ONE CEO Jeremy Nixon said. “Collectively, this new tripartite alliance will offer strong, reliable and highly dependable end-to-end direct port container services to its customers on both the Transpacific and Asia-Europe trades.”

The detailed rotation for the services includes eight Asia–U.S. West Coast South loops:

FP1 (Far East – Pacific 1): Singapore – Kobe – Nagoya – Tokyo – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Tokyo – Shimizu – Kobe – Nagoya – Tokyo – Singapore.

MS2 (Mediterranean Pacific South 2): Singapore – Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – Shanghai – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – Kaohsiung – Shekou – Singapore.

PS3 (Pacific South 3): Nhava Sheva – Pipavav – Colombo – Port Klang – Singapore – Cai Mep – Haiphong – Yantian – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Tokyo – Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Singapore – Port Klang – Nhava Sheva.

PS4 (Pacific South 4): Xiamen – Yantian – Kaohsiung – Keelung – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Keelung – Kaohsiung – Xiamen.

PS5 (Pacific South 5): Qingdao – Ningbo – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Kobe – Qingdao.

PS6 (Pacific South 6): Shanghai – Ningbo – Kwangyang – Pusan – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Pusan – Kwangyang – Incheon – Shanghai.

AP1 (Asia Pacific 1): Haiphong – Cai Mep – Shekou – Xiamen – Taipei – Ningbo – Shanghai – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Shekou – Haiphong.

CPX (China Pacific Express): Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – Pusan – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Portland – Pusan – Kwangyang – Qingdao.

The rotation also includes three Asia – U.S. West Coast North loops:

PN1 (Pacific North 1): Xiamen – Kaohsiung – Ningbo – Nagoya – Tokyo – Tacoma – Vancouver – Tokyo – Kobe – Nagoya – Xiamen.

FN2 (Far East Pacific North 2: Singapore – Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – Haiphong – Yantian – Vancouver – Tacoma – Tokyo – Kobe – Shanghai – Ningbo – Yantian – Singapore.

PN3 (Pacific North 3: Qingdao – Ningbo – Shanghai – Pusan – Vancouver – Tacoma – Pusan – Qingdao.

In a statement, Yang Ming Chairman Feng-Ming Tsai said that his company’s collaboration with HMM and Ocean Network Express reflects “the deep trust and shared vision among the three companies within the industry,” and also underscores an “unwavering commitment to delivering great value and broad coverage” for customers.