Well, I suppose what happens is generally good for shipping and its customers because transport becomes more efficient and (presumably) cheaper. It is sad for Netherlands and Canada to be losing their major container lines, though.
Part of the background for what is happening is that the EU has proposed to change its regulations so that in effect, liner conferences will no longer be allowed. In case someone is not familiar with liner conferences, they are cooperation agreements where container lines cooperate on price and run services on routes together.
EU and national competition laws generally forbids competitors from cooperating on prices, but until now, parts of shipping have been exempted. This will soon change and that meanst shipping lines need to be bigger in order to run the various routes themselves.
The Chinese lines CSCL and COSCO are roumoured to be on the lookout for possible takeover candidates, but it is difficult to see which companies are available to take over. MSC is highly succesful and privately owned, and thus not likely to be a takeover candidate. The same goes for CMA CGM. The Chinese certainly are not likely to be selling their lines. Taiwan's Evergreen may be a candidate because it is not growing fast enough to keep up with the other lines, but this company also seems unlikely.
One thing is certain, though: We are heading for interesting times in liner shipping.
Best regards
Mats
Oslo