CMA CGM’s Ocean Three ‘O3’ alliance may be granted with antitrust consent by the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), barring a 45-day review period.
As well as CMA CGM, O3 includes China Shipping Container Lines and United Arab Shipping Co.
The alliance’s approval will see operations for joint-services beginning in the next few weeks within the east-west trades, according to Lloyds Loading List.
Moreover, a drawn out evaluation process is said to be avoidable due to O3’s smaller size when compared with the 2M alliance of Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co.
O3 was announced in September this year, following CMA CGM’s drive to seek an alternative to the P3 alliance, which had previously been denied by China.
The O3 trio have said they are planning to offer four weekly services in the Asia-Mediterranean trades, as well as four in the Asia-Europe trades.
They also plan five weekly transpacific loops as well as a route along the Asia-US East Coast via the Suez Canal, which is due to begin the next phase of expansion.
The lines are still to receive formal confirmation from Washington.
