Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has signed on the dotted line to cooperate with Maersk Line and MSC's 2M alliance.
A formal ceremony was held on Thursday to launch what it called the 2M+H Strategic Cooperation boxship agreement.
The restructured Korean owner said it expects to save on costs and boost its competitiveness in East-West trades through the deal.
The cooperation includes slot exchanges on Asia-US west coast runs and slot purchases for Asia to the US east coast, northern Europe and Mediterranean loops.
HMM will operate three exclusive Asia-US west coast services, one more than its arrangement with the G6 alliance.
This will increase its basic slot allocation (BSA) by about 20%.
The US west coast BSA is expected to projected to surge 50%.
HMM CEO Yoo Chang-keun said: “We believe that all three partners will strengthen competitiveness through this strategic cooperation.
"HMM can provide a diverse range of services and acquire a more stable basis of profit improvement by utilising 2M’s competitive networks and mega-vessels."
The PS1 string will use four 6,300-teu vessels and two of 5,500 teu from 1 April.
Rotation is Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Gwangyang, Pusan, Long Beach, Pusan, Gwangyang, Incheon, Qingdao.
PS2 will have seven 6,800-teu ships with the following rotation: Laem Chabang, Vung Tau, Hong Kong, Yantian, Kaohsiung, Pusan, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pusan, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Laem Chabang, from the same date.
And PN2 will deploy a 5,500-teu vessel and five 4,600-teu units from 7 April.
Rotation is Hong Kong, Yantian, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Pusan, Tacoma, Vancouver, Pusan, Gwangyang, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong.
