The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on Wednesday approved a proposed liner carrier consortium for their planned services to and from the United States, allowing “THE Alliance”, consisting of Hapag-Lloyd, Yang Ming, “K” Line, MOL and NYK, to become effective December 19, 2016.Initial plans for THE Alliance also included Hanjin Shipping before the South Korean carrier went bankrupt in August.”K” Line, MOL and NYK, the three Japanese members of THE Alliance, announced last month they would combine their liner carrier divisions under a single entity. It is not clear yet what impact this might have on the alliance’s operations.Through the new alliance the carriers plan to call over 75 ports in the Far East, North Europe, the Mediterranean, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.