G6 plans trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic expansion

The trades targeted by the expansion will bring G6's coverage in line with that announced by P3 in June this year. The G6 expansion and P3 implementation are both expected to begin in Q2 2014, subject to regulatory approval.

The G6 comprises APL, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Orient Overseas Container Line, and has been operating on the Asia-Europe and Mediterranean trades since March 2012, expanding to cover the US East coast earlier this year.

With their planned expansion, the G6 will cover 240 vessels connecting 66 ports, weighing in shy of P3's announced 255 vessels across its services.

The move by G6 comes as as a date is set for a regulatory summit between Chinese, European and US authorities into the issues surrounding carrier alliances and vessel sharing agreements, prompted by the global network plans announced by the P3 alliance of CMA CGM, Maersk and MSC.

Separate from regulatory consideration of the P3 deal, each of the P3 lines, CMA CGM, Maersk and MSC, are the subject of EU price fixing investigations and proceedings, alongside a number of other carriers.