THE smaller G6 Alliance unveiled plans to expand into the transatlantic and transpacific services to meet the proposed mega P3 Network with a competitive offering of their own.

The smaller G6 Alliance, with 17 per cent of the tonnage afloat, made up of Hapag-Lloyd, NYK, OOCL, Hyundai Merchant Marine, APL and MOL, plans to deploy 240 ships covering 66 ports in Asia, America and Europe to compete with the P3 alliance that unites Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM, the world's three biggest carriers with 37 per cent of the tonnage afloat.

G6 hopes to complete its expanded services by April, pending regulatory approval, to coincide with the launch of the P3 Network on the Asia-Europe, transatlantic and transpacific routes.

In response, regulators from the European Union and China have accepted invitations to confer with the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on December 17 in Washington to discuss cooperative agreements between container lines.

"The summit will discuss global regulatory issues including carrier alliances, vessel-sharing agreements, and the impact of operational agreements on international trade," said the FMC statement.

Already cooperating on Asia-Europe and Asia-US east coast routes, G6 lines will deploy 76 ships on 12 services linking 27 ports in Asia and the US west coast. Five transatlantic services will be operated by 42 ships, calling at 25 ports in the US, Canada, Panama, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Belgium and Germany.

"The proposed expansion will complement our existing services in the Asia-North America east coast and Asia-Europe trades, allowing us to deploy the most suitable ships for each loop across the trades," said a G6 statement.

"With greater service flexibility and operational synergies, the G6 alliance will have an even more resilient and robust network - giving shippers a wider coverage area and shorter transit times without reducing the total capacity."

Each G6 carrier will be able to offer almost twice as many sailings on the Asia-North America trade as what it currently operates separately, the alliance said.

The US Federal Maritime Commission has set December 17 when European and Chinese regulators will conferred with American authorities on the global nature of alliances, as they are no longer confined to specific trades or regions.

Under the American 45-day filing rule, the P3 alliance could be cleared to operate in the US trades by the FMC on Friday, unless the clock is stopped to allow further questions. The three competition authorities will discuss regulatory issues relating to carrier alliances, vessel-sharing agreements and the impact of operational agreements on international trade when they meet in the US capital.