Improving Business in the Wilmington Region
NORTH CAROLINA PORTS, ZIM PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO SOUTHEAST ASIA
MARCH 20, 2017
Wilmington, N.C. – North Carolina Ports is pleased to announce a new partnership with ZIM Integrated Shipping Ltd. The container carrier recently added the Port of Wilmington to its Z7S all-water Asia-U.S. East Coast service rotation. This weekly service will begin calling on the port in June and provides unprecedented access to major markets in South China, Southeast Asia and India Subcontinent.
“This ZIM service will support legacy apparel, furniture and hardware industries throughout the Carolinas,” said Executive Director, Paul J. Cozza. “It’s an incredibly unique offering which shows our commitment to both reliable and flexible shipping solutions for our customers.”
Known for its speed to market, the Z7S service is the first container service to call the Port of Wilmington using the Suez Canal. Its rotation includes direct access to Da Chan Bay, Yantian, Cai Mep, Port Kelang and Colombo. Outside of Yantian, each of these port calls are new to North Carolina Ports. With extensive port coverage and proven high service reliability, ZIM further improves the gateway that is the Port of Wilmington.
“North Carolina Ports will continue to be at the forefront by adapting to commercial developments across the Southeast,” said Chief Commercial Officer, Greg Fennell. “Our approach has extended our global reach, delivering further options for regional importers and exporters.”
ZIM is another returning ocean carrier to the Port of Wilmington after a slot chartering agreement with the CKYHE Alliance in early 2016. The container carrier’s Z7S string will feature 11 vessels averaging 5,000 TEUs in size.
“It’s a special time to be a part of North Carolina Ports,” said Chairman of the North Carolina State Ports Authority Board of Directors, Tom Adams. “We’ve had three major service announcements in just over a month which sets us up for record throughput.”
To prepare for growth, North Carolina Ports recently announced the order of two New Panamax ship-to-shore cranes with an option to purchase two more from designer Shanghai Zhenjua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC). Between the new cranes, turning basin expansion project, various berth improvements, and the expansion of the container yard, North Carolina Ports will pump over $120 million into its infrastructure over the next few years. These investments, along with the operational efficiencies associated with North Carolina Ports, have led, in part, to recent service additions at the Port of Wilmington.
Similar to other recent service announcements at North Carolina Ports, the Z7S container service could also attract more agricultural exports through the Port of Wilmington Cold Storage (PWCS) facility. The demand for pork and poultry is particularly high and it is anticipated that the new Z7S container service, dovetailed with the capabilities of the PWCS facility, will give North Carolina farmers the opportunity to significantly grow their export business to Asia through North Carolina Ports.
North Carolina’s ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, plus inland terminals in Charlotte and in Greensboro, link the state’s consumers, businesses and industry to world markets, and serve as magnets to attract new business and industry to the State of North Carolina. Port activities contribute statewide to 76,000 jobs and $700 million each year in state and local tax revenues.
Cliff Pyron
Senior Manager, External Affairs
(910) 343-6492
