MSC Cape Town

Global shipping companies Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) have announced their shipping alliance will commence operations from January 2015 after receiving approval from US regulators.

The US Federal Maritime Commission voted four to one in favour of the vessel sharing agreement (VSA), also known as the 2M alliance, on Wednesday.

“The US was the only remaining jurisdiction where the parties had to obtain formal approval. Maersk Line and MSC can now implement the agreement as planned,” Maersk said in a company statement. The 2M alliance is already in compliance with European Union regulators.

The ten-year agreement will enable Maersk and MSC to share infrastructure on Asia-Europe, Transatlantic and Transpacific lines.