The President of the Israel Shipping Chamber, Dr. Yoram Zeba, addressed a letter this morning to Ofer Malka, Director General of the Ministry of Transportation, regarding the activity of the Port of Ashdod and the evacuation of empty containers from the port. According to the president of the Shipping Chamber, in the last two years the port of Ashdod has not been able to serve the increasing amounts of trade during the window times allotted to each company.
“Every week, operational cuts are announced, just before the ship arrives, and usually all container imports are unloaded, container exports are loaded, and most of the emptiness remains on the dock,” Dr. Zeba wrote in his letter to the director general of the Ministry of Transportation. President of the Association of Chambers of Commerce, Amir Shani, Chairman of the Corporate Association of Customs Agents, Dr. Ron Tomer, President of the Manufacturers Association, Gabi Ben Harush, Chairman of the Transport Council, R / H Yigal Maor, Director of the Shipping and Ports Authority, Uzi Yitzhaki , Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Israel Ports Company, Shlomo Briman, CEO of the Israel Ports Company, Ms. Orna Hozman Bechor, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ashdod Port Company, Moshe Shiko Zana, CEO of the Ashdod Port Company, Eshel Armoni, Chairman Haifa Port Company’s Board of Directors, Mandy Salzman, CEO of the Haifa Port Company, and members of the Ports Customers Forum.
“To this day, shipping companies have gritted their teeth at heavy expense due to this omission: the necessity of forcibly storing the empty containers at the port or at the rear terminals for unclear periods. The evacuation with the help of dozens of special ships, which are subordinate to the regular operational queue, waiting on anchor for the mast. Referral of entire ships to Haifa. The evacuation through Haifa with the help of special trains from Ashdod to Haifa, laden with fatigue and emptiness. Holding container inventory is larger than required in normal operation. Storage through Hani’s special projects. A blessed and creative activity in itself. “
In his letter to the Director General of the Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Zeba mentions that “the areas in the port are not intended for storage – neither of containers nor of vehicles. They are intended for operational purposes only to bridge the loading and unloading of ships and the entry and exit of goods from the port. ‘
Dr. Zeba writes that “recently the issue of emptying empty containers has become particularly critical in the port of Ashdod.” According to him, all the options he mentioned encountered serious difficulties due to the fact that the ports and terminals are full. “There is a very severe shortage of available ships and it is not possible to lease containers, a phenomenon that is largely due to drastic changes in international markets and disruption of ship schedules and the availability of containers. The ability of the Port of Haifa to work for Ashdod has greatly decreased, “writes Dr. Zeba.
The president of the shipping bureau further notes that “shipping companies are desperately looking for any way to evacuate the empties, and not necessarily to find storage spaces for them. Storage is the default. ‘
He said, “I checked with a number of companies, and it turned out that some of them had to cut back on import volumes to Israel – for the first time in the history of Israel’s landline shipping. Others are considering other preventative measures. “For a modern country like ours, where 46% of the trade is carried in containers, this is a very serious and painful blow to its economy, whose livelihood is mainly based on its maritime trade.”
Dr. Zeba goes on to write that “the service situation in the port of Ashdod is difficult. There is no doubt that the demand has exceeded the supply in which the long-awaited change will come only towards the end of the year. “
According to him, Raspan’s service indices are low and the response to demand at the end of December has dropped to a terrible percentage.
According to Dr. Zeba, “The only way for immediate change is to increase manpower. In light of the entry of the container competition there is not much logic in permanent reinforcement, which was incidentally discontinued at the end of 2017. Now it is an emergency recruitment from an available outsourcer, for whom there is no commitment to permanent employment. This pill can be swallowed by a small handful of employees, good and loyal as they may be, for the benefit of the entire public. It is clear that such a move will lead to an improvement in all sectors that today suffer from a dire shortage of manpower. “
Dr. Zeba writes: “I immediately propose the establishment of a small committee headed by Rabbi Yigal Maor that will urgently examine the above serious facts and work for a quick solution that will be implemented by the end of the year. I am sure that the Ashdod Port Authority will cooperate willingly, “Workers’ representatives will follow suit. We must act immediately.”
Dr. Zeba adds that he is not the only one anxious about the situation. “The Association of Chambers of Commerce, through its president, Adv. Uriel Lin, and Vice President Amir Shani, expressed their views clearly. The chairman of the Board of Directors also spoke clearly. The Manufacturers’ Association, according to the press, also warned of what was happening. “