Zim ending transatlantic service to join one from Grand Alliance

Zim ending transatlantic service to join one from Grand Alliance Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. will end one of its transatlantic services in March and instead become a vessel operator on an existing loop of Grand Alliance carriers Hapag-Lloyd, NYK and OOCL.
   The Israeli carrier will terminate its North Europe East Coast Express (NEX) service that has a rotation of Antwerp, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Liverpool, New York, Norfolk, Savannah and back to Antwerp. The service currently operates on a nine-day sailing frequency using three 2,000-TEU vessels with two coming from Zim and one from Evergreen Line. No one from Evergreen could be reached in time to find out its future plans.
   With the end of NEX, Zim will introduce a ship, Dublin Express, onto the Grand Alliance’s Atlantic Express (ATX) service, which will be upgraded to run with four vessels of 4,000-TEU capacities instead of the four of roughly 2,800 TEUs it currently deploys.
   “This move will considerably reduce the bunker consumption per slot-mile, offering a more environmentally friendly solution,” the Grand Alliance carriers and Zim said in statements.
   The weekly ATX has a port rotation of Rotterdam, Hamburg, Le Havre, Southampton, New York, Norfolk, Charleston and back to Rotterdam. Atlantic Container Line takes slots on the ATX.