Zim to connect Port of Tampa, U.S. Gulf to Asia

Zim to connect Port of Tampa, U.S. Gulf to Asia    Israel’s Zim Integrated Shipping Services in July will start a weekly all water Asia/U.S. Gulf service.
   The Asia-Gulf Express (AGX) service will use nine ships of 3,000 TEUs with a port rotation of: Shanghai; Ningbo; Busan; Cristobal, Panama; Kingston, Jamaica; Tampa, Fla.; Mobile, Ala.; Houston; Kingston; Cristobal; and back to Shanghai.
   According to ComPair Data, the global liner-shipping database, at https://www.compairdata.com , the AGX will be the only service directly connecting the port of Tampa in Florida with ports in Asia.
   “The Central Florida Trade is exploding, and the new AGX Service is Zim’s response to the rapidly changing needs of our customers,” said Gordon Kay, Zim’s executive vice president of marketing and customer service. “The Port of Tampa’s vision and cooperation as well as its recent terminal expansion with the addition of three new cranes, made our decision to upgrade Zim’s existing Tampa Service, an easy one.”
   “The decision by Zim to upgrade its service to Tampa from a feeder connection to a mainline port of call, on its new direct service from Asia, is a strong endorsement of the Port of Tampa’s competitive strengths,” said Richard Wainio, Tampa’s port director. “All the elements are coming together for Tampa to emerge as an important gateway for container traffic moving to and from Florida, the Southeast U.S., and overseas markets.”