P3 made to sweat by the FMC

The Federal Maritime Commission announced on 5 December its decision to request more information from the three shipping lines on the proposed agreement to co-operate and share vessels on the Asia-Europe-US trades.

The implementation of the agreement filed with the Commission on 24 October last year, which was due to become effective on 8 December, has been delayed by the public consultation that ended on 26 December.

The approval process now depends on the lines’ submission of the information requested, after which a new 45-day regulatory review period will begin. However if the Commission then requested further information the delay could be lengthened, possibly beyond the 1 April date when the three hoped to launch.