ZIM, MSC announce strategic cooperation to enhance shipping services

ISRAEL – ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, based in Israel, has entered a new long-term operational agreement with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.

This cooperation will enhance the Asia-U.S. East Coast and Asia-U.S. Gulf trades, with services scheduled to begin in February 2025, pending regulatory approval.

The new partnership aims to boost operational efficiency and offer more extensive port coverage for ZIM customers, according to an official statement released by the company.

Eli Glickman, President & CEO of ZIM, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing its importance in maintaining ZIM’s customer-focused approach while expanding the company’s network.

“This important collaboration reflects ZIM’s commitment to delivering outstanding shipping solutions to our customers and taking proactive steps to enhance efficiencies in our network,” said Glickman.

He added that ZIM’s fleet renewal program has given the company a competitive edge, particularly in the Asia to U.S. East Coast trade.

Glickman highlighted that the partnership with MSC aligns with ZIM’s focus on decarbonization, as it will promote the use of eco-friendly vessels.

“ZIM is proud to be the first carrier to introduce LNG-powered vessels to the Asia-U.S. East Coast trade, offering a unique competitive position in this strategic market,” Glickman added.

These LNG-powered vessels are set to play a central role in the expanded network, making the company’s operations more environmentally friendly while continuing to offer high levels of service.

The three-year cooperation agreement between ZIM and MSC will include vessel sharing and slot swap arrangements across six services, connecting Asia with the U.S. East Coast, the West Coast of Mexico, the Caribbean, and U.S. Gulf ports.

This announcement comes just weeks after MSC finalized a separate agreement with the Premier Alliance, which includes HMM, Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Yang Ming.

This collaboration, set to begin in February 2025, focuses on enhancing Asia-Europe and Transpacific routes.

Jeremy Nixon, CEO of ONE, commented on the MSC partnership, saying, “We are very pleased to announce that our strategic partnership with HMM and Yang Ming in the East-West trades will be further continued. The close network collaboration that exists between the three companies will be further strengthened under this new collaboration.”

MSC’s separate ventures with ZIM and the Premier Alliance indicate a broader strategy to improve global shipping routes and services, particularly in key trades such as Asia-U.S. and Asia-Europe.

With over 80 direct port calls planned as part of the Premier Alliance network, MSC and its partners aim to deliver more reliable and flexible options to their customers.

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