NOW that Zim's financial restructuring is complete, and its losses are narrowing, the time has come to consider joining a global alliance and upgrading its fleet, said chief executive Rafi Danieli.
Zim is one of the few carriers in the east-west trades that is not an alliance member. The Israeli flag carrier co-operates on the NP1, NP2 and NP3 with the G6 Alliance on the transpacific west coast trade but it is not yet a member.
"We do hope that we can upgrade the level of co-operation that we have with other shipping lines," Mr Danieli told London's Containerization International in an extended interview.
"We have been talking with many shipping lines about specific co-operation on specific lines, but at this stage we still haven’t opened up discussions about joining one of the alliances," he said.
"But yes, definitely, after finalizing the financial issues of Zim, we are ready for these discussions," Mr Danieli said.
But how attractive is Zim as an alliance partner, now that its ships are besieged with violent anti-Israeli protesters, who managed to cow Oakland Dockers into not working the ship. Such protests are happening in Tampa, Florida.
According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal about 25 protesters gathered Saturday morning at the port to try to prevent a Zim ship from being worked, with reports of plans for renewed demonstrations on November 1.
Said Zim: "We are working with local authorities at the places we operate to secure smooth operation to our vessels."
Mr Danieli also spoke about the possibility of expanding Zim’s fleet.
He said with the completion of the Panama Canal expansion, in 2016, Zim will need to expand the number of new-panama size vessels it has in its fleet to compete on trade lanes that transit the canal.
The expanded canal will be able to handle vessels up to 12,000 TEU, compared with the current limit of 5,000 TEU.
"We have to be ready, for example, for the opening of the extension of the Panama Canal, so we are going to be ready for that time. We haven’t yet started any specific discussions on it but we will be ready in that time," Mr Danieli said.
But it is "too early" to enter into discussions on fleet expansion, given that Zim only completed the restructuring in July.
Currently, the largest vessels in the Zim fleet are just over 10,000 TEU and operate on the transpacific trade.
It is unlikely that Zim will enter the market for 18,000-TEU vessels in the near future as Mr Danieli is critical of the lack of flexibility they offer.
WORLD SHIPPING
16 October 2014 - 22:10
Restructuring done, Zim now looks to joining an alliances, upgrading fleet
NOW that Zim's financial restructuring is complete, and its losses are narrowing, the time has come to consider joining a global alliance and upgrading its fleet, said chief executive Rafi Danieli.
WORLD SHIPPING
16 October 2014 - 22:10
Restructuring done, Zim now looks to joining an alliances, upgrading fleet
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