Port of Baltimore Announces Expansion
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The Port of Baltimore on March 7 announced it is expanding container business at its Seagirt Marine Terminal as the Israeli-based ZIM Shipping Line will begin calls at the facility this summer.
The call will begin with biweekly stops and then expand on a weekly basis later in the year.
The name of the new service is the Zim eCommerce Baltimore express, which will runs ships from China and Southeast Asia to the U.S. East Coast. ZIM operates a fleet of nearly 100 vessels, and includes trade lanes in the Transpacific, Cross Atlantic, Cross Suez, Intra-Asia and Latin America.
Big news! @ZimShipping will begin calls from Baltimore. New e-Commerce Baltimore express to serve China, SE Asia, U.S. E Coast. @WilliamPDoyle: Great news for PoB, @ILAUnion. Zim is 1 of world's top ocean carriers. Balt is #1 U.S. e-comm port@pachesapeake https://t.co/1ogoI2IhSW pic.twitter.com/219Kyf47Gw — Port of Baltimore (@portofbalt) March 7, 2022
“ZIM’s commitment to the Port of Baltimore is another indication that the international maritime shipping industry recognizes Maryland’s role as a critical gateway to American markets,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said.
Maryland Port Administration officials said ZIM was interested in beginning the service to Baltimore because of the port’s guaranteed space, its dedicated out-of-gate lane and expedited rail/air/road connections to inland destinations.
The agreement is an extension of the work the Port of Baltimore has been doing with ZIM since July 2020. Since that time the facility has handled more than 40 calls from “ad hoc” ships, which include what are called extra loaders — vessels diverted to Baltimore that were not on a regularly scheduled service call.
“Maryland’s public-private partnership with Ports America Chesapeake is continuing to pay significant dividends,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary James F. Ports. “Our collaboration with Ports America Chesapeake has helped Maryland’s Port of Baltimore become more efficient and productive.”
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services ranks No. 39 on the Transport Topics Top 50 list of the largest global freight carriers. — Transport Topics
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