Zim Integrated Shipping has launched its first standalone express container service between Asia and the Port of Vancouver, augmenting the carrier’s slot-sharing agreement with Mediterranean Shipping Co. for service to the west coast of Canada.
Zim’s Pacific Northwest Xpress (ZPX) service kicked off with the Jan. 21 departure of the GSL Valerie from Vietnam’s Port of Cai Mep. It’s scheduled to arrive in Vancouver on Feb. 12.
The ship will be one of seven with an average capacity of 3,500 TEUs that will be in the ZPX service string, according to Sea-Intelligence Maritime Analysis. The ZPX’s eastbound rotation includes Cai Mep, Yantian, Kaohsiung, Xiamen, Ningbo, Shanghai and Vancouver, with an additional call on the westbound voyage at Busan.
The ZPX joins the Zim North Pacific (ZNP) service between China and Vancouver. MSC operates that service, where Zim charters space through its cooperative working agreement with the carrier.
While Zim saw its most recent operating results dragged down by weak freight demand, the carrier nonetheless has been looking to add capacity in certain trades. It restarted an Asia-US West Coast express service in late 2023 due to increased demand from e-commerce shippers and added a north-south express service to tap increased demand for refrigerated produce cargo into US Southeast ports.
Source:
Angell, M. (2024b, January 24). Zim launches its own Asia-Western Canada Express service. Journal of Commerce. https://www.joc.com/article/zim-launches-its-own-asia-western-canada-express-service_20240124.html