Two weeks after the announcement of mega partnerships between container shipping's "big three", Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Company and CMA CGM, in the ailing transpacific Asia-US trade, there are reports that Maersk and CMA CGM are teaming up on the Atlantic in yet another cooperative arrangement. CMA CGM is withdrawing one of its transatlantic services and buying space from Maersk which, in a statement, has stated that it has formed a slot chart er arrangement with the French line in an effort to cut down on costs and surplus capacity in the Atlantic trade, particularly westbound, which is suffering from US economic downturn. CMA CGM will terminate its Liberty Bridge service, operated in partnership with China Shipping deploying four 2500-TEU vessels. The new agreement between Maersk and CMA CGM covers 900-teu a week on the Danish line's TA3 service between northern Europe and the US East Coast. Meanwhile, Financial Times has quoted the CMA CGM chief executive vice-president as saying that more mega partnerships could not be ruled out.
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