ZIM Container Tracking
Track your ZIM container in real time. Paste your container number below, no login needed, for live status, route and a predicted ETA.
Track your ZIM shipment
ZIM
SCAC: ZIMU
Israeli global carrier, world's 10th largest, running an asset-light chartered fleet and niche-lane strategy
ZIM traces its roots to 1945, when it was founded in Haifa as the shipping arm of the pre-state Jewish community, later becoming Israel's national carrier. It has since grown into a global container line and today ranks among the ten largest in the world, though its share of total capacity sits around 2 percent. What sets ZIM apart from the mega-carriers is how it operates. Rather than owning most of its ships, it charters close to 95 percent of its tonnage, giving it an asset-light model that flexes with the market.
ZIM at a glance
- Headquarters
- Haifa, Israel
- Founded
- 1945
- Fleet
- ~120-140 vessels, ~0.7M TEU (roughly 95% chartered)
- Alliance
- Independent (operational cooperation with MSC on Asia-US trades)
- Main trade lanes
- Transpacific, Asia-US East Coast/Gulf, Asia-Mediterranean, Atlantic, cross-trades
- Official website
- www.zim.com
About ZIM
ZIM traces its roots to 1945, when it was founded in Haifa as the shipping arm of the pre-state Jewish community, later becoming Israel's national carrier. It has since grown into a global container line and today ranks among the ten largest in the world, though its share of total capacity sits around 2 percent. What sets ZIM apart from the mega-carriers is how it operates. Rather than owning most of its ships, it charters close to 95 percent of its tonnage, giving it an asset-light model that flexes with the market.
The company built its reputation on selective, high-yield trades instead of blanket global coverage. Its core strength is the Transpacific, alongside Asia to the US East Coast and Gulf, Asia-Mediterranean, Atlantic, and various cross-trades. In 2024 ZIM struck a multi-year operational cooperation with MSC covering Asia-US East Coast, Gulf, and Transpacific services, letting it share slots and vessels without joining one of the big alliances. ZIM has also leaned into technology and lower-emission tonnage, chartering a series of LNG dual-fueled newbuilds and marketing digital cargo tools under the ZIM name.
In February 2026 Hapag-Lloyd agreed to buy ZIM for about 4.2 billion dollars, a deal still pending shareholder and regulatory approval as of mid-2026, with a portion of the business set to continue under a separate Israeli entity.
ZIM container tracking FAQ
Where is ZIM headquartered and when was it founded?
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services is headquartered in Haifa, Israel, and was founded in 1945. It served for decades as Israel's national shipping line and is now a publicly traded global carrier listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Is ZIM part of a shipping alliance?
ZIM is not a member of the major alliances (Gemini Cooperation, Ocean Alliance, or Premier Alliance). It operates largely independently but runs a multi-year operational cooperation with MSC covering Asia-US East Coast, Gulf, and Transpacific services, sharing slots and vessels on those lanes.
What does the SCAC code ZIMU identify?
ZIMU is the Standard Carrier Alpha Code assigned to ZIM Integrated Shipping Services. It appears on bills of lading and booking documents and is used to identify ZIM as the carrier when tracking containers moving on its services.
How do I track a ZIM shipment?
Enter your ZIM container number, Bill of Lading (BOL), or booking number into Panvaya's tracker. You'll get the live vessel route, milestone events, and a predictive ETA in real time, with no ZIM account or login needed for a quick lookup.
What is ZIM's SCAC code?
ZIM's SCAC code is ZIMU. It identifies ZIM on bills of lading and shipping documents. On Panvaya you don't need to enter it. Just paste your container, BOL, or booking number and we detect the carrier automatically.
Can I track ZIM containers by Bill of Lading or booking number?
Yes. Panvaya supports ZIM tracking by container number, Bill of Lading (BOL), and booking reference (BK). Any of the three returns the same real-time route, port calls, and ETA.
Is ZIM container tracking free on Panvaya?
Yes, you can track ZIM shipments for free, with no login for a quick lookup. Sign in to unlock the full journey: detailed milestones, predictive ETAs, transhipment legs, and exception alerts.
Why isn't my ZIM container updating?
ZIM tracking reflects what the carrier and vessel feeds have reported, so there is often a lag between a real-world move and the update. Panvaya refreshes on a regular cycle; a shipment that looks stuck usually just means the next milestone (such as vessel departure or discharge) hasn't been filed yet.
How accurate is the ETA for ZIM shipments?
Panvaya combines ZIM's schedule with live vessel position and historical performance to predict arrival, and refines the ETA as the journey progresses and conditions change. It is a continuously updated estimate, not a guarantee.