Shipping giants MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and Maersk, have decided to part ways and not continue the 2M alliance past 2025. To remind, the two companies signed a vessel sharing agreement in 2015. 

Under the VSA in 2015, MSC and Maersk aimed to secure competitive and cost-efficient operations on the Asia-Europe, Transatlantic and Transpacific trades. The agreement had a minimum term of 10 years with a 2-year notice period of termination.

In a joint statement, CEO Vincent Clerc of A. P. Moller – Maersk, and CEO Soren Toft of MSC say, “MSC and Maersk recognise that much has changed since the two companies signed the 10-year agreement in 2015. Discontinuing the 2M alliance paves the way for both companies to continue to pursue their individual strategies.

We have very much appreciated the partnership and look forward to a continued strong collaboration throughout the remainder of the agreement period. We remain fully committed to delivering on the 2M alliance’s services to customers of MSC and Maersk.”

The decision has no immediate impact on the services provided to customers using the 2M trades. Each company’s customer teams will communicate with their respective clients to support during, and beyond, the phase-out of the 2M alliance.