Zim service celebrated in Tampa
Representatives from the Port of Tampa and the Tampa shipping community held a reception for Zim Integrated Shipping Services Thursday in recognition of Zim's new service set to begin calling the port next week.
Zim's Asia-Gulf Express service from Asia to Panama and the U.S. Gulf Coast is a milestone for Tampa, because it is the port's first direct container service from the Far East.
Zim has had a presence in Tampa, but served customers with a feeder service between the Gulf Coast and the Zim transshipment hub in Kingston, Jamaica.
Company officials credited growing trade volumes from Central Florida for the decision to begin a direct call.
When the decision was first announced, Tampa port director Richard Wainio commented: '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.'