South Spain News

​ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd (ZIM)  has announced a significant upgrading of its Atlantic network, offering improved connections between US, Canada and the Mediterranean, starting April 2017, subject to FMC approval. ZIM Container Service Italy (ZCI) - A new premium string, offering improved service to the Italian and French markets, connecting with Canada and the US East Coast, with faster transit time, additional ports of call in Italy and a direct call in Fos, France. ZIM’s flagship service, ZIM Container Service Atlantic (ZCA), operating 7 vessels, will focus on the East Med and Spain, with a new call in Algeciras, serving the South Spain market and adding new direct calls in two major Turkish ports- Izmir and Mersin.

The NCSA-USG area remains short of tonnage: a 34,000 dwt bulk ship is well-linked to US$ 15,000 daily for a short period of 3-5 months, reports BMTI in its latest 'Handy Bulk Market Viewpoint'. Owners of a similar size of tonnage were seeing US$ 24,000 daily for a trip to Europe. A range of US$ 20,000 daily from NCSA via the USG to the Continent from owners of a 36,000 dwt was rebuffed by charterers as being too expensive. From the NCSA, undisclosed charterers were chasing a 35,000dwt for short period at US$ 13,500, which was about US$ 2,000 short of the owner's ideas.