ZIM renews ties with MSC on the transpacific

Among a welter of major liner announcements yesterday, Israeli carrier ZIM has renewed ties with Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), signing a three-year cooperation agreement on voyages from Asia to the US east and Gulf coasts. 

The agreement between ZIM and MSC includes slot swap and vessel sharing agreements across six services. 

“Consistent with ZIM’s focus on decarbonisation, this partnership will promote greater utilization of larger and more eco-friendly tonnage, including our LNG-powered vessels. I am proud that ZIM is the first carrier to introduce LNG capacity to the Asia to US east coast trade and currently offers two services fully operated by these green vessels, giving us a unique competitive position in this strategic trade,” commented Eli Glickman, ZIM president and CEO.

Also announced yesterday ahead of what is set to be the biggest reshuffle of global liner agreements for a decade, THE Alliance will become the Premier Alliance from next February, with Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM and Yang Ming Marine Transportation as partners, and MSC helping plug gaps on Asia-Europe tradelanes. 

From the end of January next year, MSC is ditching Maersk in the 2M vessel sharing agreement to largely go it alone, and Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd subsequently exiting THE Alliance to join the Danish carrier in what will be called the Gemini Cooperation. 

MSC revealed to clients yesterday the make-up of its standalone services come February next year, detailing how it will operate on five east-west trades with 34 loops.

Existing liner group Ocean Alliance, made up of CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen and OOCL, has agreed to continue its vessel-sharing agreement until the end of March 2032.