#OceanSüdMembership - Hamburg Süd would be interested in joining the Ocean Three alliance according to Lloyds Loading List .com, if its first steps into the east-west trades prove successful.

That would also mean becoming a tonnage provider and eventually contributing 18,000 twenty equivalent unit (TEU) class ships in the Asia-Europe leg of the global partnership, Hamburg Süd's executive board chairman Ottmar Gast said in an interview following the release of the German line's 2014 performance review.

Acknowledging that becoming the fourth member of the new alliance was still a sensitive issue and not under formal negotiation at this stage, Mr Gast nevertheless said in the long-run, it would "make sense" for Hamburg Süd to have "a higher share of the overall capacity" in the Asia-Europe trades if its initial foray works out.

That could result in full membership of the Ocean Three group of CMA CGM, United Arab Shipping Co (UASC) and China Shipping, which was formally inaugurated a few weeks ago, if the other members agreed.

Hamburg Süd has already signed a global co-operation agreement with UASC that will give it access to the Pacific and Asia-Europe trades through slot charter arrangements. In return, UASC will have space on some of Hamburg Süd's South American trades.

Unlike the other global alliances, Ocean Three is a more flexible group that allows members to team up with other carriers where appropriate.

For much more on this story click this LINK to Lloyds Loading List's coverage of the container shipping development.