A part of Watch Media

ShippingWatchTuesday7 February 2023

  • Search
  • Log in
  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Latest
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
23/10/2013at 14:16

Maersk Line downplays US concerns about P3 alliance

Vincent Clerc, Chief Trade and Marketing Officer at Maersk Line, sees the pointed statements from the US maritime authorities as a sign that things could finally start moving in relation to getting the P3 collaboration approved by the United States.
BY JØRGEN RUDBECK

While the US maritime authorities point to considerable competitive challenges and problems in relation to the final approval of the till now most extensive collaboration among the world's three largest container carriers Maersk Line, MSC, and CMA CGM, Chief Trade and Marketing Officer at Maersk Line, Vincent Clerc, remains calm.

Do you want to stay up to date on the latest developments in Danish and International shipping? Subscribe to our newsletter – first 40 days are free

Earlier today, Wednesday, ShippingWatch reported that William P. Doyle, member of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has voiced concerns about the number of ships decreasing from 346 to 255. The Maersk Line officer does not share this concern, and he does not fear that the FMC statements will have any influence on whether the P3 alliance will get off the ground.

"Actually, what the commissioner is saying is quite okay. He has some questions regarding our US-flagged ships, a fact that he'll find will be improved in light of P3 once he gets the right documentation. He has questions concerning the reduced number of ships, which is fair, but that's the whole point of economy of scale, that we have fewer but larger ships in our network. That's how we'll create savings through P3," Vincent Clerc tells ShippingWatch, adding:

"There will be no losses on the total coverage and our US-flagged deployment will actually improve, as we plan to put the flags on some of our fuel efficient ships that are currently not sailing under US flags."

Maersk Line secures own key port in P3 alliance 

Increased coordination will boost the process

Another point of contention for the FMC members deals with certain aspects surrounding the application, and the fact that the three alliance partners have been to aggressive in their assumption that the collaboration would receive final approval.

Vincent Clerc explains that the process has been less than optimal, but that the statements regarding increased cooperation between the involved authorities as a step leading into the next phase of the approval process.

"We didn't expect them to make these statements, but on the other hand, it's not surprising that they chose to present their concerns. But we actually see this as a positive sign, because we've worked with the whole idea, and we'd like to discuss this with them. The approach now presented by FMC, which calls for increased coordination between the various authorities, makes a lot of sense, as it will boost the approval process considerably," says Vincent Clerc.

The US slams the brakes on Maersk alliance

Free competition still in play

At the question about what effect the alliance between the three largest carriers in the world could have on the free competition, another objection raised by the FMC members, Vincent Clerc says:

"They're worried about the size and the price coordination, and that there'll be fewer ships. But when we show them that there's going to be more capacity, and that we've established a firewall between the commercial activities and the operational collaboration, they'll find that their concerns have been considered and taken care of. We believe we have a solid case, but there could be some other aspects in the model that might need slight adjustments, but we'll deal with that when we get to the specific parts."

The Maersk Line officer does not feel that the combined statements today have done anything to slow down the P3 process, and he still expects the collaboration to be approved by the US authorities within the next six months.

"We still haven't heard anything that makes us worry, or anything that's really serious regarding the future of P3. These are all fair statements that we knew we would have to deal with. [...] We see no reason to change the tentative timeline we've set, but if things end up taking a little longer, then we'll have to deal with that," Vincent Clerc tells ShippingWatch.

Do you want to stay up to date on the latest developments in Danish and International shipping? Subscribe to our newsletter – first 40 days are free

SeanIntel: P3 alliance will leave competition in its wake 

Why the EU will scrutinize new Maersk alliance 

Alphaliner: P3 could trigger price wars

P3 has more than 27 percent share of US container market 

Related articles:

  • Photo: Maersk Line

    SeanIntel: P3 alliance will leave competition in its wake

    For subscribers

  • Photo: APM Terminals

    Alphaliner: P3 could trigger price wars

    For subscribers

  • Photo: APM Terminals

    P3 has more than 27 percent share of US container market

    For subscribers

Sign up for our newsletter

Stay ahead of development by receiving our newsletter on the latest sector knowledge.

!
Newsletter terms

Front page now

Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc (left) and MSC CEO Søren Toft are following very different strategic directions. | Foto: Jacob Gronholt-pedersen/reuters/ritzau Scanpix og Jason Decrow/ap/ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk could be heading for a price war with MSC

After a profit of historic proportions in 2022, Maersk is facing a new reality this year, entailing a potential price war unleashed by the carrier’s partner in the disbanded 2M alliance, MSC, predicts Drewry.
  • Opinion: Maersk and MSC heading for direct confrontation over customers
  • Drewry director eyes one central weakness in Maersk's strategy

For subscribers

Krisen på fragtmarkedet styrker DSV's position i forhold til rederierne: ”I og med at vi er en af de store aftagere af søfragt, har vi også et samarbejde med rederierne, som er strategisk og forankret i direktionen,” siger DSV's topchef, Jens Bjørn Andersen. | Foto: Lars Krabbe/Foto: Lars Krabbe/Ritzau Scanpix
Logistics

DSV to support box carriers that provided help during Covid chaos

For subscribers

Photo: Rebecca Naden
Tanker

Countdown to clash over Euronav's board composition has begun

For subscribers

Maersk is heading for its second record profit, setting a new benchmark in Danish business history. | Foto: Jonas Walzberg/AP/Ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk on track to achieve record profit for second consecutive year

For subscribers

Foto: Sund & Bælt
Offshore

Danish authorities suspending 23GW of offshore wind projects

For subscribers

Foto: Casper Dalhoff / Ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk redirects traffic following earthquake

For subscribers

Further reading

Maersk is heading for its second record profit, setting a new benchmark in Danish business history. | Foto: Jonas Walzberg/AP/Ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk on track to achieve record profit for second consecutive year

Wednesday, Maersk will probably announce a financial result for the Danish business history annals. Shareholders face dividends of USD 11.2bn, one analyst estimates.

For subscribers

Krisen på fragtmarkedet styrker DSV's position i forhold til rederierne: ”I og med at vi er en af de store aftagere af søfragt, har vi også et samarbejde med rederierne, som er strategisk og forankret i direktionen,” siger DSV's topchef, Jens Bjørn Andersen. | Foto: Lars Krabbe/Foto: Lars Krabbe/Ritzau Scanpix
Logistics

DSV to support box carriers that provided help during Covid chaos

DSV customers found themselves in a bind when box carriers were able to allot limited ship space as they saw fit during the pandemic. Now the balance has shifted.

For subscribers

Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc (left) and MSC CEO Søren Toft are following very different strategic directions. | Foto: Jacob Gronholt-pedersen/reuters/ritzau Scanpix og Jason Decrow/ap/ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk could be heading for a price war with MSC

After a profit of historic proportions in 2022, Maersk is facing a new reality this year, entailing a potential price war unleashed by the carrier’s partner in the disbanded 2M alliance, MSC, predicts Drewry.

For subscribers

Jobs

  • Foundation Package Manager - Offshore wind industry

  • Senior Financial Controller

  • Chartering Manager for Lauritzen Bulkers A/S

  • Copenhagen Shipping Company is hiring a skilled cargo broker

  • Vessel Manager Marine and QA

  • Commercial Contract Manager for the Offshore Wind Industry

  • Ambitious employee for Shipping office wanted

  • Head of P2X Marketing and Sales (m/f/d)

  • Fleet Manager

See all jobs

Latest news

  • DSV to support box carriers that provided help during Covid chaos – 15:56
  • More tankers embark on illicit sailings following embargo on Russian oil – 15:33
  • Monjasa to provide green ammonia through new collaboration – 15:27
  • Countdown to clash over Euronav's board composition has begun – 15:17
  • New major port project underway in the Baltic Sea region – 15:05
  • Bank DNB sees box market reach record lows in coming years – 14:24
  • Maersk on track to achieve record profit for second consecutive year – 13:32
  • Maersk could be heading for a price war with MSC – 12:53
  • Oil prices extend gains following earthquake and Chinese demand rebound – 10:25
  • Maersk redirects traffic following earthquake – 08:52
See all

Jobs

  • Foundation Package Manager - Offshore wind industry

  • Senior Financial Controller

  • Chartering Manager for Lauritzen Bulkers A/S

  • Copenhagen Shipping Company is hiring a skilled cargo broker

  • Vessel Manager Marine and QA

  • Commercial Contract Manager for the Offshore Wind Industry

  • Ambitious employee for Shipping office wanted

  • Head of P2X Marketing and Sales (m/f/d)

  • Fleet Manager

See all jobs

Colophon

ShippingWatch
Search

Sections

  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
  • Sitemap
  • RSS feeds

Editor

Tomas Kristiansen

tk@shippingwatch.dk

Tel.: +45 3330 8360

  • About ShippingWatch

Editor-in-chief

Anders Heering

Publisher

JP/Politiken Media Group Ltd

Advertising

annoncering@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Advertising

Job Advertising

job@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Jobs

Subscription

Try ShippingWatch or get an offer for a subscription meeting the exact needs of you or your company.

shippingwatch@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Learn more about subscriptions here

Address

ShippingWatch

Rådhuspladsen 37

1785 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Tel.: +45 3330 8360

Guidelines

  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © ShippingWatch — All rights reserved

Microsoft is in the process of discontinuing Internet Explorer – and so are we.
For a better experience, we recommend using one of the following browsers.

Kind regards,
ShippingWatch

Google ChromeMozilla FirefoxMicrosoft Edge