Strike Halts Haifa Port Operations

2014-10-07

Operations at Israel’s Haifa Port are shut down due to workers striking over the Israeli government’s plan to build privately-run ports on the Mediterranean coast close to state-owned Ashdod and Haifa, the Voice of America reports.

“Every hour of the strike causes heavy damage and weighs on Israeli exports and imports,” said Chamber of Shipping vice-president David Castle.

Castle went on to say that it was yet unclear when the strike would end.

Port workers unions are one of the most powerful in the country, seeing that almost all of Israel’s imports and exports are moved by ships.

The government’s plan to build two private ports in the vicinity of Ashdod and Haifa is seen as an attempt to break powerful public sector monopolies and the unions dominating them.

In September 2014, Israel signed a contract with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the construction of the new private port in Ashdod

Construction works on a 1,000m pier and 2.8m of breakwater at a site some 1km north from the current Ashdod Port are expected to start by the end of 2014, and are projected to last for seven years. The project value is estimated at USD 930 million.

Source from : worldmartime

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