Maersk and MSC to go their separate ways
MSC and Maersk have mutually agreed to terminate the 2M alliance (Source: Maersk)
The world’s two largest container lines, Maersk and MSC, are to end the vessel sharing agreement known as the 2M alliance in 2025 when the ten-year arrangement comes to a close. The end of the alliance will also see the long-established brands of Hamburg Süd and SeaLand consigned to history as the lines become absorbed into a ‘unified Maersk brand’.
One of Germany’s oldest shipping names, Hamburg Süd was incorporated in 1871 and soon established a name as one of the foremost carriers in the north-south trades, subsequently also expanding on east-west routes. Maersk acquired the shipping company from Germany’s Oetker group in 2017.
Commenting on the end of the 2M agreement, the two mega-carriers stated: “MSC and Maersk recognise that much has changed since the two companies signed the ten-year agreement in 2015. Discontinuing the 2M alliance paves the way for both companies to continue to pursue their individual strategies.
“We have much appreciated the partnership and look forward to a continued strong collaboration throughout the remainder of the agreement period. We remain fully committed to delivering on the 2M alliance’s services to customers of MSC and Maersk.”
The companies stated that there would be no immediate impact on services to customers using the 2M trades. Each company’s customer teams will communicate with their respective clients to support during, and beyond, the phase-out of the 2M alliance, they said.
