MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is entering a partnership with Zim under a vessel sharing agreement on a service that calls Australia.
The announcement comes as Zim plans to restructure three existing services to Oceania in October 2023.
“Our current Oceania services network will be restructured, in co-operation with MSC, to enhance reliability and strengthen our customer offerings,” Zim EVP Intra-Asia Danny Hoffman said.
“We are embarking on an exciting new phase in our Australia service, elevating the level of services provided.”
Zim said it would replace its existing CAX service as a new service that calls Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Yantian, Nansha, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
The company also plans to replace its existing TFX and N2A services with two new rotations.
The new Zao – Zim Asia Oceania service would call Laem Chabang, Singapore, Tanjung Pelapas, Singapore, Jakarta, Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers.
The new Zox – Zim Oceania Express service rotation Singapore, Jakarta, Fremantle, Melbourne, Napier, Tauranga, Brisbane and Tanjung Pelepas.
MSC said its vessel sharing agreement applies to the Panda service, starting in October 2023. The service would operate with seven 5000-TEU vessels, four of which would be operated by MSC.
The updated rotation includes Nansha, Hong Kong, Yantian, Brisbane (first call), Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane (second call), Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Hong Kong and Yantian.
MSC said its Panda, Capricorn and Kiwi Express services would continue to provide direct services between Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
It noted its partnership with Zim is subject to regulatory approvals.
