The “Ocean Three” Alliance among CMA CGM, China Shipping and United Arab Shipping Co. came together quickly after the formation of the “2M” agreement among Mediterranean Shipping Co. and Maersk, a deal that left CMA CGM seeking an alliance partner on east-west trades.
Nicolas Sartini, group senior vice president of CMA CGM, in charge of the Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean trades, told the JOC that, “We contacted them after China turned down the P3 alliance with Maersk and MSC because we know them very well and are working with them on other routes. We very quickly decided to set up 14 new services on the major east-west trades. … What makes sense in this agreement is that each of us presents one important region, CMA CGM in Europe, China Shipping in China and Asia and UASC in the Middle East.”