The latest development from container-lines looking to offset the effect of competition on their profitability is cross-alliance collaboration. THE Alliance (led by Hapag-Lloyd and ONE) and Ocean Alliance (CMA-CGM and COSCO Shipping) will jointly offer a western Mediterranean to U.S. service. Volume growth on the route (AL6) has been strong with a 28% rise in the three months to August 31. However the 2M Alliance (Maersk and MSC) has taken the lion’s share of that growth, with a 58% expansion, whereas CMA-CGM has seen a downturn. Coordinated operations will require FMC approval, which ma...