FOUR of the world's leading container shipping companies plans to form an alliance to provide liner services in the Asia-Europe and Asia-North America trade lanes, according to a statement.
Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), American President Lines (APL), Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Nedlloyd Lijnen (NLL) of the Netherlands said they had started negotiations which, if successful,ope service along with NLL's partners in the Tonnage Sharing Agreement (TSA) - Compagnie Generale Maritime Orient and Malaysia International Shipping Co.
MOL and the TSA group had earlier announced intentions to establish a joint service next year.
OOCL and APL would join this service under arrangements to be finalised in future discussions.
In the transpacific trade, APL and OOCL exchange vessel space, co-ordinate sailings and share terminals under an agreement that extends to 2005.
The four lines also are discussing the possibility of a joint, all-water service via the Panama Canal from Asia to the US east coast.