Zim has announced the imminent launch of an enhanced service structure between Asia and the West Coast of North America after it agreed to expand its cooperation with the G6 Alliance.
The Israeli ocean carrier said the new service, comprising three weekly loops offering improved transit times, increased frequencies and extended port coverage, will launch in mid-May.
Zim has been partnering with three of the G6 carriers — Hapag-Lloyd, NYK and OOCL — on the route since 2009.
The announcement of a closer cooperation with the G6 Alliance comes as Zim continues to search for a new partner to revive its Asia-north Europe service, which ended in April after its partner China Container Shipping Lines decided to operate a joint service with United Arab Shipping Co. deploying ships above 18,000 TEUs.
Zim still operates an Asia-Mediterranean service and an Indian subcontinent-north Europe service.
The Israeli carrier has said it plans to become a full member of one of the major global alliances after its owner Israel Corp. finalizes a $3 billion financial restructuring.
The three Asia-Pacific North West service rotations are:
- North Pacific 1 (NP1): Singapore – Laem Chabang – Da Chan Bay – Hong Kong – Yantian – Vancouver – Tacoma – Seattle – Busan – Kaohsiung.
- North Pacific 2 (NP2): Hong Kong – Yantian – Kaohsiung – Shanghai – Busan – Tacoma – Seattle – Vancouver – Yokohama – Busan – Kwangyang.
- North Pacific 3 (NP3): Qingdao – Ningbo – Shanghai – Pusan – Vancouver – Tacoma –Vancouver – Tokyo – Nagoya – Kobe.
The Journal of Commerce