A major East/West reshuffle is on the horizon, according to informed sources within those companies concerned with the possible shake up. The reshuffle will follow the much-talked-about possible merger of COSCO and China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), which is expected to reach fruition in either a positive or negative manner within the next four weeks, Asia Cargo News sea freight correspondent Paul Richardson reports.

COSCO and CSCL have already built up a management task force in Europe to study the merger between the two companies, and sources within the industry have just confirmed that, assuming the outcome is positive, CSCL would join the CKYHE alliance comprising COSCO, K Line, Yangming, Hanjin and Evergreen, leaving further question marks over the future structure of the Ocean Three agreement, of which CSCL is an existing member.

See the October issue of Asia Cargo News for more on this story.