The president of the Israeli chamber of shipping Mr. Nahum Ganzarski said in a press release, after an emergency board meeting, that the situation at the two main Israeli maritime gateways, Ashdod & Haifa, was worsening.
Mr. Ganzarski expected matters to become even worst since no progress had been made since the Port Restructuring Bill was approved by the parliament.
In his statement Mr. Ganzarski said that it was totally unacceptable that ships would have to wait long period of time waiting to enter ports and that shipowners have no alternative but to pass over the extra costs related to the extra time spent, to the local importing and exporting communities.
Ports' strike costs, according to calculation prepared by the Israeli Manufacturers Association, some 5 billions shekels annually to the Israeli economy. Further, an average Israeli family has to bear additional NIS 5,000 as a result of the excessively high costs of the continued labor dispute at the ports.
Mr. Ganzarski said that the Chamber examined several action plans among which, the setting up of a public inquiry committee to investigate the labor relations at the ports as well as drastic increase in freight rates.
"Time is running short and the 210 days agreed upon to allow for negotiation to take place will end in February 2005". Mr. Ganzarski. expressed his view that unless the talks end before February next, another port strike was a possibility that we have to consider seriously".
Mr. Ganzarski said he would not be surprised if several shipping companies decided to stop serving Israel altogether which would mean that essential cargoes such as foods will be short and more expensive due to higher freight rates.
The Israeli Chamber of Shipping is an association representing maritime shipping entities operating in Israel, and playing an important role in the maritime transport, trade and tourism industries. The Chamber is proactive in maritime trade to and from Israel, and in improving the level of service at the ports.
The Chamber represents the interests of all maritime shipping entities vis-a -vis government ministries, the Knesset, public institutions in Israel and abroad, and the Ports Authority.
