FMC greenlights Premier Alliance debut

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced that the Premier Alliance Agreement will become effective this month.

The Premier Alliance Agreement, set to take effect on 9 February, permits Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Yang Ming joint service agreement to share vessels in trades between the United States and Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

The agreement was first filed with the Commission on 28 October 2024.

On 5 November 2024, the Commission issued Requests for Additional Information (RFAI) to collect data for an economic examination of the Agreement’s competitive implications.

The RFAI procedure includes a 15-day public comment period, during which two industry trade groups filed.

The Commission judged the material given under the Premier Alliance Agreement relevant on 26 December 2024.

The statute allows the Commission up to 45 days to consider a newly filed agreement or respond to an RFAI before it takes effect.

Alliance agreements are subject to the Commission’s rigorous continuing monitoring standards.

On 9 December 2024, FMC announced that a global operating partnership of three container shipping corporations would not take effect as scheduled.