MAERSK Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) executives are in Washington to plead with US Federal Maritime Commission officials to avoid having the clock stopped on the 2M vessel-sharing agreement between the two shipping lines.

Although it was known that Maersk Line and MSC were flying representatives to Washington to meet the FMC to discuss the 2M proposal, only now are details of the purpose of the visit becoming known, says Lloyd's List.

Containerisation International said the executives hope the FMC not to delay the 2M launch. The FMC has 45 days to review proposed agreements, but can stop the clock on a one-time only basis to ask carriers questions, after which another 45-day period begins.

There will be insufficient time for the two lines to prepare the vessel sharing agreement for start-up early next year if the commission issues a request for further information and stops the clock.

The carriers flew their executives out to Washington after two commissioners aired reservations about 2M and warned that the FMC was likely to stop the clock on the 45-day review to gather more information about the alliance.

It is not yet clear whether the carriers have managed to offset the commissioners' concerns.