Zim Integrated Shipping Service’s board of directors have given their approval for the line to launch a new Asia/US East Coast via the Suez Canal service during late May with its own tonnage.

The move follows on to Zim’s earlier departure from the Asia/North Europe trade, labelled by the line prior to the departure as a big financial lossmaker, and one of the main reasons the company had recorded a series of losses over many years.

Details of the new service were revealed late April 16 by Zim senior executives and, although the service is still to be named, it will deploy 10 x 5,000/6,500 teu Zim vessels providing an average weekly capacity of around 5,700 teu.

The first westbound sailing of the new Zim service is scheduled to be from Yantian on May 25 with a port coverage of Yantian, Dachan Bay, Cai Mep, Singapore, Colombo, (Suez transit), New York, Norfolk, Savannah, (Suez transit), Singapore and Yantian.

Zim is also putting together a series of slot purchase agreements with other lines for involvement on the new service.

Identity of those lines is not being revealed, but Zim is presently working together with lines within the G6 Alliance as a slot purchaser itself on G6 services covering the Asia/US trade routes, and strong indications are that those lines maybe further involved in the new service.

The all-important move by Zim to turn its finances around into a more positive sector, will not make for any changes on existing Asia/US East Coast and US West Coast coverage.

Another line with eyes on the US East Coast trade is Hapag-Lloyd, which is to launch its own new North Europe/USEast Coast service. Hapag-Lloyd is increasing its coverage of the transatlantic with another new service, to be known as the AX4 service, from late April.

The new service will offer coverage of Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Savannah, New York and Bremerhaven. Vessel deployment will comprise 4 x 2,500 teu vessels. The first westbound sailing from Antwerp is scheduled to be made on April 28 by the 2,500 teu Ulyssses.

Transit times include Bremerhaven/Savannah in 12 days westbound and New York/Rotterdam in 11 days on the eastbound leg.

By Paul Richardson

Sea Freight Correspondent | London