Zim to dock at Jamaica's Kingston Container Terminal

Israeli container shipping line, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Limited, has been allocated space at the new US$248 million Western Berth at Jamaica's Kingston Container Terminal.

Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) president Noel Hylton said Zim has a 10-year agreement with PAJ to use Kingston as a hub.

The new berth marks phase five of the port's 14-year expansion programme, an online report by jamaica-gleaner.com said.

It noted that the 10-year Zim contract has been in effect since 2006, noting the Israeli line has done business with Jamaica since 1975 and was one of the first lines to call on Jamaica.

Zim's agent in Jamaica, Carib Star, said in the report that the new Western Berth is to be used exclusively by Zim.

The Kingston Container Terminal (KCT) is managed under contract by APM Terminals Limited, and currently has an annual container handling capacity of 3.2 million TEU. Mr Hylton said the PAJ is targeting annual business of 5 million TEU by 2014.

The report added that the expanded port facility adds 475 metres of berth, with a depth of 15 metres; an extended 65-metre container yard; 10 trailer trains; 976 reefer plugs; six super post-Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes, two of which have already been commissioned into service; 24 straddle carriers and one 6,000 horsepower tug.

The PAJ is the largest port operation in Jamaica, handling 1.8 million TEU last year, down from 1.98 million TEU in 2006.