Orient Overseas Container Lines (OOCL) has formed a second new grouping, the Asia Australia Alliance, with three other lines.
The announcement comes days after OOCL said it was forming the world's biggest shipping alliance with Malaysia International Shipping Corp (MISC), Hapag-Lloyd, P&O Nedlloyd and Nippon Yusen KK.
That group will have more than 100 deep-sea container vessels serving the main east-west trade markets, including container ports in Asia, Europe and North America.
MISC also is a partner in the Asia Australia consortium, called Triple A. The other members are Mitsui OSK Lines and Pacific International Lines (PIL).
Triple A is expected to start operating early next June with two loops of four vessels.
'The consortium will offer our customers the most comprehensive coverage in Australia and Southeast Asia,' OOCL said.
'It will have enhanced, twice-weekly frequency at Sydney, Melbourne, Port Klang and Singapore and improved transit times.' The first loop, the Torres Express, will have four vessels operating at 18 knots, with OOCL and PIL each contributing two vessels.