ZIM Shipping announced that it is launching a new, upgraded service the Indian Subcontinent and the East Mediterranean.

In a statement, ZIM said the new service, solely operated by ZIM, offers significant advantages to customers on this important, fast-growing trade route.

Under the ZMI service, ZIM said it will deploy 4X4,250 TEU vessels on this new line on the following route: Mundra - Nhava Sheva - Colombo - Haifa - Mersin - Istanbul - Mundra.

Zim said the new service is due to commence operations in January 2022, replacing the current ZIE and ZII services.

It noted that ZMI will be operated exclusively by ZIM, offering customers a wide range of advantages including market transit time, dedicated special and project cargo services, fast and synchronized connections to ZIM’s extensive regional networks in the Mediterranean and Asia, as well as a connection to destinations in North Europe, West Europe, Black Sea, Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"We continue to expand the scope of our services and use our agility to provide new and improved solutions that will benefit our customers for the long run, while strengthening our position in this important trade," said Eli Glickman, ZIM President & CEO.