Japan's Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Germany's Hapag-Lloyd are teaming up on feeder operations.
The container lines have inked a bilateral strategic feeder network cooperation agreement, which has already started its first trades.
ONE said the collaboration is "leveraging the unique strengths and competitive advantages of both companies and aims to provide the market with a superior feeder network."
Both companies will share space on their feeder services.
They started a new Intra-Asia service, Bohai Feeder (BHX), in August and will further introduce a new Intra-Europe run, the North Sea Poland Express (NPX) in mid-October.
The cooperation will initially cover specific intra-Europe and intro-Asia trade lanes.
It will be expanded into other key areas in "due course," ONE added.
“This new cooperation is another strong footnote to the existing bilateral partnership," said ONE CEO Jeremy Nixon.
"We are convinced that together with Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express will continue to enrich our feeder network portfolio and provide more premium feeder service to our respective customers.
"Looking ahead, we are confident that the scope of this cooperation will be further broadened.”
ONE, formed by NYK, MOL and K Line, operates together with Hapag-Lloyd within THE Alliance. The joint venture also cooperates with the German operator on Latin America, Africa and Indian Subcontinent trades.
