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FREIGHT BUSINESS JOURNAL ISSUE 5 2014 www.fj-online.com


Wales report: Port Talbot: big in bulk but in boxes too? P.19


P3 becomes 2M as Maersk and MSC sign new deal


MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has signed a ten-year vessel sharing agreement (VSA) with Maersk Line on the three main east- west trade lanes: Asia-Europe, Trans-Pacific and Trans-Atlantic. It will be known as 2M and will provide about


185 vessels operating 21 strings, with around 2.1 million teu total capacity. It comes in the wake of the Chinese


authorities’ decision in June not to allow the P3 alliance between MSC, Maersk and CMA CGM to go ahead, on the grounds that the group would have too dominant a share of its trade. While less ambitions than P3, 2M would still


help the two lines achieve major efficiency savings, said MSC vice president, Diego Aponte. He said: “The 2M Vessel Sharing Agreement will enable us to achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption, driving down the carbon footprint of our shipping operations. With sustainability a key area of focus for MSC, we’re delighted that this vessel sharing agreement will mean major cuts in emissions while simultaneously enhancing our


service to


customers.” As well as having a smaller market share


than P3, 2M would be a simple VSA without any separate independent organisation or


Evergreen to start Liverpool service in July as ACL confirms


Peel Ports revealed that Taiwanese-owned Evergreen is to begin a new service into Liverpool from the beginning of July, during a Prime Ministerial visit on 11 June. It is understood that it will be a weekly feeder operating Rotterdam-Liverpool-Dublin with a 500teu vessel. Evergreen currently uses common- carrier feeder ships to service Liverpool. It would create a link via Evergreen’s


Rotterdam hub to destinations on its worldwide route network, including Asia. Atlantic Container Line (ACL) has meanwhile


confirmed that Liverpool will be the UK call for its fleet of five new ro ro-container ships due to be introduced into its North Atlantic Services next year. Liverpool’s owner, Peel Ports, said it would invest £310 million to widen the Seaforth Passage and create a 70,000 vehicles-per-year


NEWS China scuppers P3 deal


Devil in the detail of new box weight rules


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executive powers to manage the network. Vessels deployed in the VSA would still be operated by the two individual lines. Nevertheless, said MSC, it would improve network


3 >> Benelux: Maasvlakte 2 - the big day looms P.29


Europe's best multimodal newspaper


Germany 777, Brazil... FEATURES


dedicated car storage area. ACL has called in Liverpool since 1969. ACL itself is expanding its Liverpool office


to concentrate its commercial, marine and logistics operations work in the city, increasing staff by 40% to over 180 people. The new G4 vessels, currently under


construction in China, will have a container capacity


of 3,800teu,


compared with 1,850teu for the current G3 ships, plus


3 >>


Interview: BIFA’s Peter Quantrill


Insurance


Freight Soſtware Guide IT


Recruitment


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