Israeli shipping firm Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) announced a further expansion of its Strategic Cooperation with the members of the 2M Alliance, Danish Maersk and Geneva-based MSC, to the Asia – US Gulf Trade.
This is the third phase of the company’s tightening cooperation with the 2M Alliance, which is now extending to four major trades, said Eli Glickman, ZIM President and CEO.
The new agreement includes two new strings, ZGC – ZIM US Gulf Central China Xpress and ZGX – ZIM US Gulf South China Xpress.
A total of ten 6,500 TEU vessels will be deployed with the rotation Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, (Panama Canal Transit), Houston, Mobile, Miami, Freeport, (Panama Canal Transit), Araijan, Busan.
Subject to regulatory approval, the first sailing will be from Ningbo, on 18 August.
Another ten 4,500 TEU vessels will be deployed with the rotation Xiamen, Yantian, Busan, (Panama Canal Transit), Houston, Mobile, Tampa, Manzanillo, (Panama Canal Transit), Balboa, Busan.
Also subject to regulatory approval, the first sailing will be from Xiamen, on 16th August.
The new services, catering for both Central and South China and South Korea, offer direct connections to major ports in Asia and the US Gulf, the company noted.
The new cooperation follows previous agreements in the Asia – US East Coast, operating since September 2018, and on the Asia – Pacific North West and the Asia – Mediterranean Trades, operating since March 2019.
