ISRAELI CARRIER ZIM has found a way to maintain a trans-Tasman service and crucial links to its ZAX China-Australia product through a slot-charter deal with ANL Container Line.
ZIM’s Hong Kong subsidiary Gold Star Line yesterday announced two loops, GTS and GNA, based on ANL’s TranzTas and ANZ Shuttle, respectively.
GTS – Gold Star Trans-Tasman Service – will provide extensive coverage between New Zealand and Australia with the following rotation: Auckland, Lyttleton, Port Chalmers, Napier, Tauranga, Sydney, Melbourne, GSL said.
The complimentary GNA – Gold Star New Zealand Australia Service – rotating Auckland, Tauranga, Brisbane “will provide seamless connections via Brisbane to and from our North East Asia network, enhancing your access to major Asian markets”.
The deal – which DCN understands covers only 4Q 2024 and 1Q 2025 at this stage – involves a modest allocation over both services but enables ZIM/GSL to retain a presence in the Tasman market following the cessation of MSC’s Capricorn and Kiwi Express services, on which the ZIM previously had slots.
The new arrangements take effect for GTS with v.2419 of Keta from Port Botany 19 October and GNA with v.2441 of ANL Kiwi Trader from Brisbane 23 October.
Separately, Cosco SL/OOCL’s joint trans-Tasman service has reduced to one ship following the redelivery of the OOCL-supplied Contship Quo. This leaves Contship Yen to provide sailings every 21 days.
The latest changes follow Maersk’s decision to drop its Polaris Tasman service as part of its latest reorganisation of services.
