The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has officially approved the Premier Alliance agreement, which will take effect on February 9, 2025. This agreement allows HMM, Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Yang Ming Marine Transport to share vessel capacity on major trade routes, including Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic, and Asia-Europe lanes.

Approval Process Recap

• October 28, 2024: The Premier Alliance agreement was first submitted to the FMC.
• November 5, 2024: The FMC issued a Request for Additional Information (RFAI) to gather data needed for a competitive impact analysis.
• December 26, 2024: The FMC determined that the Premier Alliance had provided sufficient information.
• February 9, 2025: The agreement officially takes effect.

The establishment of the Premier Alliance marks another major shift in the global shipping alliance landscape following the launch of the Gemini Cooperation. The alliance will enable its members to collaborate on 22 major east-west trade lanes, including the Asia-Middle East routes, deploying 235 vessels with a total capacity of 2.8 million TEUs. Additionally, MSC has entered into a slot exchange agreement with Premier Alliance, further expanding the network’s coverage.

With the restructuring of shipping alliances, competition among carriers for market share on key trade routes is expected to intensify. However, this heightened competition could benefit the industry's decarbonization efforts. As more shippers prioritize high-quality services, there is also a growing demand for zero-emission transportation. This shift in shipper preferences is pushing alliance members to accelerate their decarbonization strategies and invest in more clean-energy vessels.