Nils Andersen, chief executive of Maersk Line parent AP Moller-Maersk, was however offering no guarantees that China would not seek to block the move in some way.

Andersen sought to clarify the situation today, explaining that the new pact with Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) only requires the approval of US regulators.

In both China and Europe the 2M will be surveyed but it is not subject to approval in the same way that the P3 was, he said during a second quarter conference call.