Zim launches direct Tampa-Mexico container service

ISRAELI flag carrier Zim will launch a direct connection between the port of Tampa and Mexico in a weekly feeder service freeing up trade from "circuitous and congested overland routes", said Tampa Port Authority.


The weekly Mexico Tampa Express Service (MTX) will deploy two vessels of 500-TEU and 750-TEU capacity. The service will start January 29 with a port rotation of Kingston, Veracruz, Altamira, Tampa and Kingston.


"Having a direct, reliable service in this trade operated by a major global container carrier is huge,' said Tampa Port Authority (TPA) director Richard Wainio in a company statement.


The inclusion of a Tampa-Kingston leg will assist exporters who will see much faster transit times to connect to Zim's global network, including markets in Asia, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, said Mr Wainio.


The service follows Zim's South America Express service in November that added new connections from Tampa to Brazil and Venezuela.


TPA and its terminal operator Ports America aims to quadruple the size of the terminal to over 160 acres by extending container gantry crane rails which currently number three, and lengthening berth from 2,100 to 2,800 feet.


A primary driver is to position the port for increased trade with Latin America, as well as Asia, resulting from the expansion of the Panama Canal.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)