THE US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced that the Premier Alliance Agreement will become effective this month, reports London's Port Technology International.

The Premier Alliance Agreement permits Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Yang Ming joint service agreement to share vessels in trades between the United States and Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Last November, the FMC issued Requests for Additional Information (RFAI) to collect data for an economic examination of the Agreement's competitive implications.

The RFAI procedure includes a 15-day public comment period, during which two industry trade groups filed.

The FMC judged the material given under the Premier Alliance Agreement relevant on December 26.

The statute allows the FMC up to 45 days to consider a newly filed agreement or respond to an RFAI before it takes effect.

Alliance agreements are subject to the commission's rigorous continuing monitoring standards.