Ashdod port completed deepening project

Eitan Port's Pier 23 was deepened from 12.5 meters to 15.5 meters below sea level, and Pier 21 was deepened to 14 meters. Ships that carry TEU 6,000 along key international shipping routes can call at the port
 
The Port of Ashdod co. said last Wednesday it completed a NIS 35 million project to allow mega container ships that carry TEU 6,000 along key international shipping routes to call at the port.
 
In a statement issued by the port chairperson Mrs Iris Shtark, Eitan Port's Pier 23 was deepened from 12.5 meters to 15.5 meters below sea level, and Pier 21 was deepened to 14 meters.
 
Shtark added that the project put the port in a better position to handle large container ships and will enable the port to offer wider range of services to the shipping industry.
 
Ashdod Port is the economic gateway to the State of Israel. Located just 40 km. from Tel Aviv, Ashdod is the closest port to the densely populated center of the country with rapid access to Israel’s major highways.
 
Ashdod Port handled 587,000 TEUs in 2005 compared to 545,000 TEUs the previous year, and in the first four months of 2006, the Port handled 6.4% more TEUs than the same period in 2005. During 2005, the average operational waiting time for a container ship was reduced from 14.8 hours in 2004 to 7.3 hours.