CSAV eyes alliances

Chilean liner company CSAV is intent on forging closer ties with Gianluigi Apontes Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and French liner shipping company CMA CGM. Negotiations taking place in Europe in recent weeks focused on operating more joint services or consortia, and are at an advanced stage, the company said in a statement to investors.

Talks focus on three key areas including from Asia to Africa, Brazil and the Mediterranean. The others focus on the Pacific coast of South America to North Europe, and from the East coast of South America to the Middle East, the company said.

CSAV said the move is in line with its strategy to raise profitability and reduce volatility of its results, as well as the company’s exposure to the market. It said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has already been reached. CSAV already has bilateral agreements with Marseilles-based CMA CGM and Geneva-based MSC.

Only this month it hooked up with CMA CGM for a joint service between the Far East and the East coast of South America, after agreeing last year to cooperate with MSC on North Europe to East coast of South America. CSAV also has bilateral agreements with MSC on the US East coast to South America routes, and with CMA CGM on its Gulf Bridge Express service to the Caribbean. It has also teamed up with MSC to operate on the North Europe to east coast of South America, as well as on some Brazilian feeder services. <Korea Shipping Gazette>