GENEVA's Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Marseilles' CMA CGM have decided to share their fleets to optimise operations in face of growing dominance by the No 1 carrier, Maersk Line in Copenhagen.
The joint statement said the partnership of the No 2 and No 3 container shipping lines would involve Asia-Northern Europe, Asia-Southern Africa and South American trades. But the statement also said they would remain independent rivals and that the deal involves no financial union.
"The agreement offers us new opportunities to optimise the use of our respective fleets, improve our transit times and increase our performance," MSC vice president Diego Aponte said.
"We have decided to step up our partnerships, which reflect a commitment to long-term cooperation and will enable us to offer customers improved solutions and services," said CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saade.
Standard and Poor's revised its outlook on CMA CGM in September, saying it was at risk of failing to meet debt obligations.