MSC unveils 2025 network, and THE Alliance transforms into the Premier Alliance

MSC unveils its new 2025 service network

The future standalone network will replace the current 2M VSA agreement that MSC has with Maersk on East/West trades. As of February 2025, MSC will provide an independent network for East/West trades, while Maersk, together with Hapag Lloyd (formerly part of THE Alliance), has launched the Gemini Cooperation.

The new MSC network will include:

• 5 trades with 34 loops incorporating:
• 7 loops for Asia North Europe
• 6 loops for Asia Mediterranean
• 4 loops for Asia North America West Coast
• 6 loops for Asia North America East Coast
• 11 loops for the Transatlantic Network
• Optionality of weekly services via Suez with more than 1,900 direct port pairs or the Cape of Good Hope with more than 1,800 direct port pairs

The 2025 MSC East/West network and its options will not impact the tonnage or deployment for any other routes provided by MSC globally.

For further details on the MSC service network see here.

THE Alliance transforms into Premier Alliance

At the same time, the remaining members of THE Alliance, ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming, have confirmed they will continue to operate closely under a new alliance name: Premier Alliance, effective for five years in 2025.

The cooperation is comprised of mainline services across the major East - West Tradelines: Asia - North America West Coast, Asia - North America East Coast, Asia -  Mediterranean, Asia - North Europe, and Asia - Middle East. 

Premier Alliance and MSC announces slot exchange program

Simultaneously, the newly formed Premier Alliance and MSC announced a slot exchange cooperation covering 9 services from Asia to Europe, also effective 1 February 2025.

It is important to underline that MSC will operate as stand-alone carrier and that a slot exchange program with the Premier Alliance does not represent a membership in the Premier Alliance.

New Gemini service schedule expected within coming weeks

At this point in time, the newly formed Gemini Alliance is yet to release its new service schedule, and this is expected to happen within the coming weeks.

The new Gemini Cooperation, described by Maersk and Hapag Lloyd as a long-term operational cooperation, will provide dedicated operational teams to manage the cooperation, and as well feature a new-breed Hub & Spoke model.

The Hub & Spoke model centers around connectivity between 12 global hubs serviced via 26 mainline services and 32 dedicated shuttles.

ZIM and MSC forms Transpacific Operational Cooperation

ZIM and MSC have today announced a new long-term Operational Cooperation on Asia - US East Coast and Asia - US Gulf trades effective 1 February 2025, subject to regulatory filing.

The new cooperation includes slot swap and vessel sharing agreements and covers a total of 6 services and more on the cooperation here.

Overall, the announcements made today by MSC, the Premier Alliance, ZIM and earlier this year, Gemini partners Maersk and Hapag Lloyd marks a significant change to the current alliance structure.

Today

1 February 2025

We will continue to offer services across all alliance/cooperation constellations in the market, balancing cost service and quality. At the same it is important to note these changes will only have effect as of 1 February 2025.

If you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact your dedicated Scan Global Logistics representative.

We can also recommend you to sign-up for our market update webinar tomorrow here, where the leading industry expert Lars Jensen, Vespucci Maritime will provide his take on these latest significant changes.

We thank you for your continued trust in our services.