Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) signalled its push to offer end-to-end logistics solutions following the announced discontinuation of its 2M shipping alliance with Maersk.
In an earlier statement, both MSC and Maersk noted that "much has changed" since the companies inked the deal in 2015 — and the firms are now eager to pursue "individual strategies."
"MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company confirms that the present 2M alliance with Maersk will be discontinued, effective January 2025," MSC said in a statement reacting to the 2M alliance announcement.
MSC CEO Soren Toft noted that the 2M alliance played a "key role" in supporting the container shipping industry over the past eight years.
"At MSC today, we continue to strengthen and modernize our fleet, providing us with the scale we need for the most comprehensive ocean and short-sea shipping network in the market. We remain focused on delivering high-quality, personal service to a wide range of clients as we continue to develop cargo-carrying solutions on the oceans and beyond," Toft said.
The MSC chief noted that when 2M was introduced at a time when the ocean carrier industry "needed an injection of stability."
"MSC is grateful for the operational cooperation with Maersk over the past eight years and expects the concept of ocean liner vessel-sharing to remain relevant and beneficial to carriers and their customers," he said.
"As liner industry leaders, with the largest fleet, order book and network coverage, MSC will continue to respond to client demand from across the market through a growing portfolio of shipping, inland, logistics and digital solutions, as well as its emerging air cargo offering," Toft added.
MSC already announced in September that it is launching an air cargo airline to meet market demand.
It said then that the four Boeing 777-200F aircraft of MSC Air Cargo would be operated by Atlas Air, a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.
