Shippers welcome FMC's further questions on P3 alliance

Last week the FMC voted in favour of asking for more information and documents on the planned alliance between Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) and CMA CGM.

“GSF welcomes the vote by FMC commissioners so that they can obtain extra information following concerns raised by GSF, and welcomes the space created by a new 45 day regulatory review period starting from next week to scrutinise and thoroughly evaluate the proposed P3 Agreement,” said Chris Welsh, secretary general of the GSF.

“When shippers still lack basic information from the P3 about sailing schedules and how services will affect production and distribution, it is absolutely necessary for extra evaluation time for the carriers to respond to questions submitted by GSF regarding the competitive impact of the P3.”

The move by the FMC to ask more questions of P3 as part the regulatory approval process will likely delay the start of operation of the alliance, which is scheduled for the second quarter of 2014.

The FMC has also called an international regulatory summit of regulators from the US, China and Europe to be held on 17 December this year.