EUROGATE looks at Israel’s new container ports

Located on the country’s Mediterranean coast, the controversial Ashdod’s Southport terminal and/or Haifa’s Bayport terminals proposals were announced in July this year by the Israeli government as part of its move to reform the country’s ports in defiance of threats by the country’s powerful labour unions.   Almost all the country’s trade passes through the present union-controlled ports.

To be built on reclaimed land, the new facilities will be designed with two quays, with a total of some 1600 m length and maximum waterside depth of 17.3 m, to be capable of handling ULCC vessels, including ‘Triple Es’.  Each port will cost US$1bn to construct under the build, operate, transfer (BOT) process.

It is understood that representatives from six companies recently toured the areas and had expressed interest.