The Premier Alliance Gets Green Light From US Federal Maritime Commission

The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has officially cleared the Premier Alliance, a global shipping alliance formed by South Korea’s HMM, Singapore’s Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Taiwan’s Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, for take-off.

The Premier Alliance is set to commence operations on February 9, 2025. This alliance will enable HMM, ONE, and Yang Ming to collaborate by sharing vessels and routes in major trade lanes such as Asia-Europe, Transpacific, and Asia-Middle East.

Notably, HMM has announced a partnership with the Swiss shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) for the Asia-Europe trade within the Premier Alliance framework.

Under the tripartite agreement, the three companies will not only share vessels and vessel space but will also engage in discussions regarding ship size, number, operational characteristics, and other global-scale activities.

The Premier Alliance replaces the previous alliance known as THE Alliance, which was launched in 2016. With this new partnership, HMM, ONE, and Yang Ming are moving forward without their former partner, Hapag-Lloyd.

The approval for the Premier Alliance comes shortly after the operational partnership between Hapag-Lloyd and A.P. Moller-Maersk, known as the Gemini Cooperation, received the green light. The Gemini Cooperation officially commenced operations on February 1, 2025, with a focus on delivering a flexible and interconnected ocean network.

According to a recent analysis by Copenhagen-based consultancy Sea Intelligence, the container shipping market is witnessing a shift in competitive landscape with the introduction of new alliances and partnerships. The Premier Alliance is expected to maintain a significant market share, similar to that of THE Alliance.

Sea Intelligence’s analysis also indicates that the Gemini Cooperation and the Premier Alliance are set to play key roles in the competitive landscape of deep-sea container trades, particularly in the Asia-North America and Asia-Europe routes.