Joint Operation of Australia-East Asia Service by China Shipping, OOCL and Zim Line

China Shipping Container Lines Co., LTD (China Shipping), Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL) and Zim Israel Navigation Company Ltd (ZIM Line) jointly announce today a new Australia-East Asia service, covering Australia and the Greater China markets of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
This dedicated new service, which will commence in May, will provide customers with faster transit times between East Asia and Australia, and a more comprehensive coverage of ports.

"We are delighted with this new service," said Mr Wilson Hung Director of Australian Trade, OOCL. "It not only improves the quality of service we can offer our customers, but also helps us to focus our attention on the Australia-East Asia trade. With China's accession to the WTO, we believe that this market has tremendous potential for growth."

"OOCL and Zim Line have been working together for many years and we already have a strong presence in the Australia-East Asia market," said Captain Igal Dafni, Managing Director of Zim Line. "Joining forces with China Shipping will add more power to the alliance and will further consolidate our position in the Greater China market."

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to join OOCL and Zim Line in serving the Australia-East Asia market," said Mr Huang Xiao Wen, Executive Deputy General Manager of China Shipping "We are strongly committed to bringing in fast, new and modern tonnage for quality service, and to promoting trade between Greater China and Australia,"

The intent of the new alliance is to maintain closed co-operation with their existing joint service partners in serving the East Asia, Japan and Korea markets. Full details will be announced separately.