Shippers in the Carolinas can reach Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Egypt and Romania on 5,000 teu vessels from Zim's main transshipment hub in Kingston, Jamaica.
The Zim Asia/USA Express Service (AUX) offers a weekly all-water service to and from North China out of Wilmington. The AUX route also provides exporters throughout the region the fastest connection ' only a three-day transit time ' to the transshipment hub at Kingston.
"Our customers do a great deal of business in the Mediterranean and have been demanding service to this region through the Port of Wilmington," said Glenn Carlson, managing director of business development at the NC State Ports Authority. "Other advantages the Port of Wilmington offers customers include lower inland transportation costs to port and the North Carolina Ports tax credit program."
"Zim customers can also link to West Africa through the vessel call at Barcelona, Spain," said Gordon Kay, executive vice president of Zim Integrated Shipping Services Company, Inc. "Plus, we can carry oversized project cargo and refrigerated cargoes."
"Zim's service to the Mediterranean from Wilmington via Kingston gives shippers excellent transit times," Mr. Kay added. "Wilmington increases the benefits we can provide to our shippers. Wilmington's location, and the fast turnaround times at its container terminal keep our vessels and our customers' cargo constantly moving."
The weekly service at the Port of Wilmington features vessels with a minimum capacity of 2,700 teus. Beginning in Shanghai, the service calls at Ningbo and Qingdao, then at Colon, Panama, and on to Kingston, Port Everglades, Savannah and Wilmington. The new Mediterranean service's excellent transit time is possible because the ships leave Wilmington directly to Kingston on the return trip.
