ISRAELI shipping line Zim is joining the G6 Alliance on the transpacific west coast trade on three services: NP1, NP2 and NP3.

The move was expected as the shipping line has been in talks since December with G6 carriers APL, HMM, MOL, Hapag-Lloyd, NYK and OOCL. Zim said earlier it was looking to join one of the three major shipping alliances that are emerging.

At present Zim operates two services on the trade lane: its own ZCP service and the AS1 service provided by Evergreen on which the Israeli carrier has been taking slots.

It is not clear whether Zim will be providing containerships for the new services or whether they are slot-exchange agreements, reported Lloyd's List.

The AS1 service has calls in Los Angeles and Oakland. However, it appears that Zim will no longer offer services to the southern west coast, instead preferring to use the northern hubs of Vancouver, Tacoma and Seattle.

"Two gateways, Vancouver and Tacoma, with smooth and fast rail connection, allows for a best-in-market Pacific Northwest product to inland US destinations," a statement from Zim said.

It no longer provides services from Asia to north Europe having ended its relationship with China Shipping, which is joining with UASC and the CKYHE Alliance on the trade.

Zim's new transpacific west coast rotation is: (NP1) Singapore, Laem Chabang, Shenzhen-Da Chan Bay, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Vancouver, Tacoma, Seattle, Busan, Kaohsiung.

NP2: Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Yantian, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Busan, Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver, Yokohama, Busan, Kwangyang.

NP3: Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Vancouver, Tacoma, Vancouver, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe.