Container Shipping Lines Cooperate to Extend Service Offerings from March

WORLDWIDE – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and 2M partner Maersk Line have announced a new strategic cooperation with Israeli competitor, ZIM, covering the Asia-US West Coast (USWC) and Asia-Mediterranean trades. The new strategic operational agreement, which will be a combination of Vessel Sharing, Slot exchange and purchase, and the sailings are expected to start in March 2019, subject to regulatory approval.

In this, the second agreement between the trio in recent times, one service between Asia and the US West Coast, the ZP9 service will be operated as a VSA string where ZIM will operate four 4 vessels and 2M will operate 3 vessels. The remaining services will see ZIM access slots on current 2M services. The routes will be as follows:

Asia - Pacific Northwest:

ZIM Pacific Pollux (ZP9) (Maersk's TP9 and MSC's Maple service)

Kaohsiung – Xiamen – Yantian – Ningbo – Shanghai – Busan – Vancouver – Seattle – Yokohama – Busan – Kaohsiung

ZIM Pacific Procyon (ZP8) (Maersk's TP8 and MSC's Orient service)

Xingang – Qingdao – Shanghai – Busan – Yokohama – Prince Rupert – Xingang

Asia - East Mediterranean:

Sirius Line (ZAS) (Maersk's AE15 and MSC's Phoenix service)

Xingang – Dalian – Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Singapore – Port Said East – Haifa – Port-Said East – Singapore – Xingang

Spica Line (ZMS) (Maersk's AE12 and MSC's Tiger service)

Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Singapore – Port Said East – Yarimca – Istanbul – Asyaport – Piraeus – Singapore – Shekou – Pusan

To supplement and complement its services in the East Mediterranean, ZIM says it will introduce a new array of exclusive, ZIM-operated feeder lines synchronized with the mainliners and catering to the regional market in a comprehensive and efficient way. A full, detailed announcement regarding the new regional network will be issued separately. ZIM President & CEO Eli Glickman, commented:

“We are very proud to team up with the two largest players in the industry and to expand our cooperation with the 2M Alliance. The new strategic Agreement means faster and more efficient service with better geographic coverage and extended direct port calls for the benefit of our customers, in line with our vision to provide best-in-class service.

”We will significantly increase our ability to provide the ‘best of both worlds’, top-level line coverage combined with our exceptional customer service and personal touch. The agreement is a game-changer, and I am confident it will support ZIM’s growth and profitability.”