Foreign media reported last week that ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. has ended its monthly ad-hoc sailings from Asia to north Europe, ending its presence in the trade,
Since June 2014, Zim, according to the media, has been offering ad hoc sailings to north Europe every four to six weeks, using ships of between TEU 4,600 and TEU 10,000 that would otherwise have been laid up - and offering the lowest rate in the market.
The move means that ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd has scrapped two sailings originally scheduled to depart from Asia over, January and February.
The report said the company is taking advantage of the recent space shortage and surging spot rates on this other major tradelane that is expected to pick up with increased usage of the Suez Canal until the expanded Panama Canal opens to serve mainly the US west coast.
The TEU 8,440 Zim Chicago is said to be booking an ad-hoc voyage from Chinese ports via the Suez Canal to New York, Savannah and Kingston, and this to be followed by the TEU 10,062 Tianjin ahead of the Chinese New Year.
