Israel's Zim Line lays up 10 containerships and 10pc of staff

ISRAELI business journal Globes and logistics website Port2Port report Zim Line plans to cut 70 jobs, which they said would amount to a 10 per cent staff reduction in Israel.

Zim is also laying up 10 containerships in the 4,000-TEU range in the Philippines, the Israeli Sea Officers' Union told the shipping press.

Union chairman Avi Levy said 70 shore jobs were to go and an early retirement deal for around two dozen officers was being discussed. Seafaring jobs were relatively safe, given the nationality requirements of Israeli-flagged ships.

We were short of Israeli officers before the crisis. We are going to reach with Zim agreement [over] captains and chief engineers. About 25 persons will be able to go for retirement with good conditions. Then the problem will be solved, Mr Levy said.

Workers over 50 will be offered early retirement under a labour contract, signed between management and the workers committee, which also freezes pay increases, said the report.

Globes said Zim workers committee chairman Avi Sheetrit confirmed the report. Zim declined comment.

Zim's laid up tonnage joins an estimated 400-500 containerships now laid up worldwide. Maersk, the world's biggest container line, is expected to mothball 25 ships aggregating 150,000 TEU - eight per cent of its fleet.

Source: Transportweekly