Danish shipping company Maersk Line has entered into a deal with South Korea's Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Switzerland's Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to form a strategic cooperation on East-West trade routes.
The newly signed deal will include a series of slot exchanges and slot purchases among the three companies on their East-West trade routes for a period of three years.
The deal also includes an option to extend and cover major East-West trades.
Maersk Line Asia-Pacific chief executive Robbert van Trooijen said: “We believe this strategic cooperation to be a win-win for all parties.
“Maersk Line’s customers will have greater options on Trans-Pacific trades, and HMM’s customers will be able to leverage Maersk Line’s strong Asia-Europe products.
“Maersk Line has a long history in Korea spanning 87 years. Since 1930, when the first Maersk Line vessel called Korea, Maersk Line has supported the global ambitions of Korean brands.
"Our partnership with Hyundai Merchant Marine is another link between Maersk Line and Korea.”
The company currently serves its customers in 112 countries worldwide with a fleet over 611 container vessels.
Mediterranean Shipping Company senior vice-president Caroline Becquart said: “We constantly explore ways in which we can enhance our client offering and confirm our role as a trusted and reliable transportation partner.
“Today’s announcement is a very positive step, which will bring considerable benefits for our customers utilising the Trans-Pacific trade services.”
The company currently operates a fleet of 480 offices across 150 countries worldwide, employing more than 60,000 people.
Image: Deal signing among Maersk Line, HMM, and MSC. Photo: courtesy of Maersk Line A/S.
