Ocean freight carrier alliances will shortly be receiving their biggest shake-up in a decade, which was kick-started when the 2M Alliance announced it would be ending next year.

After years of operating in partnership, the world’s two largest carriers – MSC and Maersk – confirmed their split, which has led to an overhaul of the existing structure from February 1st.

Since that announcement last year, MSC have confirmed they will operate largely within their own network and Maersk surprised the shipping industry when it agreed to team up with Hapag Lloyd in a new vessel sharing agreement.

Even THE alliance (THEA), which is down a member since the loss of Hapag Lloyd, has rebranded itself under a new name – the Premier Alliance – which is a welcome change from the confusing branding it has currently.

Below is the shape of things to come from February:

Gemini Cooperation – Maersk Line, Hapag Lloyd

Ocean Alliance – CMA CGM, Cosco, Evergreen, OOCL

Premier Alliance – HMM, ONE, Yang Ming

Independent – MSC

Carriers have been busy putting the finishing touches to their new schedules, with several announcing them this month. Notably, services to and from Asia look set to be continuing around the Cape Of Good Hope for the foreseeable future.