Effective with the sailing of the Zim Mumbai, ZIM American Integrated Shipping Services Company will commence its newest weekly, all water, direct India Express (IDX) Service through the Suez Canal to US East Coast Ports in New York, Norfolk and Charleston. The first sailing will depart from the Sri Lanka Port Capital, Colombo, on May 24, 2006, with additional routings to the Mediterranean via Barcelona, Spain.

The new IDX service will have the following port rotation: Colombo, Tuticorin, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Barcelona, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Barcelona, and Colombo, with a 24-day transit from Nhava Sheva to New York.

Eight containerships, with the capacity of 3,000 teus (twenty foot equivalent units), will be utilized for the IDX Service.

The ZIM IDX Service will offer both Importers and Exporters, a direct service to India via the Suez Canal. Subject to US regulatory approval, the IDX Service's first vessel, the Zim Mumbai, is scheduled to call at Colombo, Sri Lanka on May 24, 2006.

"Zim's new IDX service gives shippers a direct link to India. ZIM is making great strides in its efforts to keep our customers' cargo moving with fast transit times, to the most ports in the world," stated Thomas Keen, Sr. Vice President, Zim.

Zim is among one of the top 20 container shipping companies in the World. ZIM provides an integrated ocean transportation and logistics service throughout the world's major international trade routes.