The European Liner Affairs Association has grown with the addition of Singapore-based Pacific International Lines, Taiwan's Wan Hai Lines and niche transatlantic operator Independent Container Line, located in Richmond, Va., as full members.

The Brussels-based liner carrier representative briefly had its numbers reduced when another relatively small transatlantic player, New Jersey-based Atlantic Container Line, resigned due to concerns over the legality of carrier organizations in light of the European ban on conferences coming later this year.

The ELAA said its members between them control more than 85 percent of the world's vessel operating capacity and that the additions of PIL (19th) and Wan Hai (20th), mean the association now has all of the top 20 globally ranked container lines.

Bourne expansion of the association is obviously good news for ELAA, and is indicative of carrier's support for our future plans, said ELAA Executive Director Chris Bourne. Following the end of the conference system in Europe on Oct. 17 this year, we plan to implement an information exchange system, which will bring unprecedented access to market data for all sectors of the industry. Our new members clearly recognize this advantage and find this future project as critical to their businesses.