The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has temporarily halted the launch of the Premier Alliance, a new partnership between containership operators Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM, and Yang Ming.
The three Asian shipping lines planned to begin operations this week, following the exit of Hapag-Lloyd from THE Alliance. However, the FMC announced that more information is required to assess the potential competitive effects of the arrangement. The FMC issued a Request for Additional Information (RFAI) after reviewing the Premier Alliance Agreement, which was filed in October 2024.
This partnership aims to enhance service reliability and global coverage across major East-West tradelines, including Asia-North America, Asia-Mediterranean, Asia-North Europe, and Asia-Middle East routes
This agreement would have allowed the three companies to share vessels, exchange space, and coordinate operational details globally. The FMC’s decision stems from concerns that the filing lacked sufficient details for a full competitive analysis.
The Commission now has 45 days to review the additional information and determine whether the agreement complies with legal and competitive standards.
Additionally, a 15-day public comment period will follow once the RFAI notice is published. The alliance was originally set to take effect on December 12, 2024.
