The 2M and O3 alliances likely will first lock horns in the Asia-Mediterranean trade, with planned increases in capacity threatening to unleash a rate war, according to analyst Alphaliner.

Issues at the Los Angeles-Long Beach were on JOC.com readers’ minds this week, along with mega-alliances and growth in the trucking industry.

Three major container lines have announced plans to launch a mega-alliance, dubbed Ocean Three, or as the JOC.com team likes to call it, O3.

The final piece of the puzzle, completing the circle –– container shipping analysts were searching for expressions to describe the Ocean Three alliance that was announced last week. But Drewry and SeaIntel were both in agreement that the alliance between CMA CGM, CSCL and UASC would see Ocean Three slot in just behind the 2M tie up of Maersk Line and MSC and see both alliances outpacing the rival networks of G6 and CKYHE.

A new carrier alliance entered the fray this week after weeks of feverish speculation.

A massive shift in market share on the east-west trades is in the pipeline as the order book of the Ocean Three (O3) and 2M alliances will see their combined megavessel capacity eclipse that of their more established G6 and CKYHE rivals.