China Shipping and Zim forge new deals

A series of new slot-sharing agreements have been put together between China Shipping (CSCL) and Zim Israel. The new agreements include the entry of Zim Israel into the Far East/Europe trade, the introduction of a new trans-Pacific service and the demise of CSCL's own Mediterranean/US east coast service. All the new initiatives were in place by mid-March. Zim will offer slots to CSCL for the Med/US east coast trade, while CSCL will offer slots to Zim on the Far East/Europe trade. Separately, CSCL will extend its Middle East/Indian sub-continent/Asia service to Los Angeles, establishing a new trans-Pacific service. Zim will take slots on that service, but will not include Dubai. This service is one of the few direct services between the sub-continent and the US West coast operated outside the big consortia. CSCL is introducing larger 4,050 teu ships onto the new service and will establish a hub in Italy's Gioia Tauro. CSCL will continue its slot deal with CMA-CGM and Norasia, which also serves the same trade lane and hubs over Malta.