The most extensive cooperative alliance ever in the container industry is being forged these months. The unique aspect of the alliance is the participation of the world's three largest carriers, Maersk Line, Swiss MSC, and French CMA CGM. One the one hand, the three carriers have been competitors up to now, but on the other hand, they've worked together, to a certain extent, by using each other's ships on various routes. And they have a history of coordinating their rate increases in joint attempts at pushing up the rates.