Singapore-based ocean carrier Pacific International Lines' ties to African trades might make it an attractive candidate for buyers interested in gaining a foothold in the emerging market, according to industry analysts.

COSCO’s acquisition of OOIL illustrates once again that normal fundamentals aren’t at play in the ocean shipping industry, where governments, sovereign wealth funds, and patriotic investors play outsized roles in the success or failure of specific lines.

The "Big 3" Japanese container lines - MOL, NYK and "K" Line - have named Jeremy Nixon, former Chief Executive Officer of NYK Group's container division, to lead their new joint venture scheduled to commence operations in early 2018.

Potential $6b sale of OOIL further consolidates Asian shipping industry

After the purchase, container carriers COSCO Shipping Lines and OOCL will continue to operate under their respective brands, with a combined fleet of 400 vessels with capacity exceeding 2.9 million TEUs including orderbook, the companies said Sunday.

Moving one step closer to completion, Japanese carriers MOL, NYK and "K" Line have now established an integrated container shipping business via operation and holding companies in Singapore and Tokyo, respectively.