2M alliance partners Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company have extended their strategic cooperation agreement with ZIM to cover select 2M services on the Asia-Pacific Northwest and Asia-Mediterranean trade lanes.

According to the three shipping lines, 2M’s TP9 service between Asia and the Pacific Northwest will be operated as a VSA string, where ZIM will operate four vessels and 2M will operate three vessels. Part of the ZIM slots on the TP9 service will be swapped for access to slots on the fully 2M-operated TP8 service. There will be no schedule changes.

Between Asia and the Mediterranean, ZIM will gain access to 2M slots on the AE12 and AE15 services. There will be no changes to the AE12 and AE15 schedules.

“Having successfully implemented our strategic cooperation, we are very pleased to expand the partnership with ZIM into additional geographies,” said Søren Toft, chief operating officer of A.P. Moller - Maersk. “This agreement delivers mutual benefits to both parties; for Maersk it provides operational efficiencies that will enable our continued drive to deliver competitive and reliable products for our customers in the world’s most comprehensive East-West network.”

The service changes are expected to begin in March 2019, subject to regulatory approval.

ZIM will introduce a number of ZIM-operated feeder services in the East Mediterranean synchronized with the mainline services and designed to cater to the regional market. Further details will be announced separately.

“We are very proud to team up with the two largest players in the industry and to expand our cooperation with the 2M alliance,” said Eli Glickman, president and CEO of ZIM. “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.”

2M and ZIM previously signed a cooperation agreement in July 2018, covering the Asia-US East Coast trade lane.