In a statement yesterday, Port Otago said ZIM Integrated Shipping Services was expanding its New Zealand-to-Australia service to include Port Chalmers.
The weekly service would call at Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Napier and Lyttelton, with alternating fortnightly calls at Tauranga and Port Chalmers, it said.
ZIM is a publicly owned Israeli company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which has an annual turnover of more than $3 billion. It operates 70 vessels across 70 services globally.
Port Otago commercial manager Craig Usher said the first ZIM vessel was due in early February. The service might increase depending on demand from local exporters and importers.
The three ZIM vessels on the New Zealand-to-Australia rotations were 1730TEU to 1800TEU, adding valuable export capacity for lower South Island exports.
It provided direct options into two major Australian ports — Melbourne and Sydney, Mr Usher said.
ZIM has operated in New Zealand since 2021, expanding its services over the period.
By: Staff reporter
