Comment / Analysis: Felixstowe, London Gateway, MSC & Gemini – musical chairs in UK ports

ID 21203821 © Kozini | Dreamstime.com

Two events occurred late last week that had the effect of further strengthening MSC’s control over North Europe’s container supply chains and presented a snapshot of an ocean/road/rail trans-European transport network well under construction.

The first was the decision by Ukraine’s competition regulator to greenlight MSC’s purchase of a 49.9% stake in Hamburg terminal and intermodal operator HHLA, which was the final regulatory clearance required for the acquisition and necessary due to HHLA’s operation of the container terminal in Odessa.

The second ...