The Home Front Command ordered on Sunday the Haifa Port authority to evacuate all cargo vessels from the port until further notice. The Ashdod port has started preparing for large-scale absorption of cargo and passenger ships
Due to terrorists attacks and rocket barrage that hit the city of Haifa, a port city of some 250,000 people 18 miles from the international border, and the port of Haifa, the Home Front Command ordered the Haifa port authority on Sunday to evacuate all cargo vessels from the port until further notice.
Due to the situation and the fear that the Hezbollah will continue targeting Haifa, the Home Front Command ordered Israelis in the Haifa region to stay in bomb shelters and secured area.
Customs offices were ordered to close as well as other government offices.Local customs brokers as well as freight forwarders are unable to operate due to stuff shortage.Following the Haifa port's evacuation ships have been routed to the port of Ashdod.
The Ashdod port has started preparing for large-scale absorption of cargo and passenger ships. The management made sure to reinforce manpower and recruit additional employees in order to enable continuous work on the docks.
the Israeli National Federation of International Freight Forwarders & Customs Clearing Agents declared yesterday that at the time being the customs brokerage industry, as well as the freight forwarding sector in Haifa, will be unable to provide its regular daily service.
The federation managemant declared that together with the Israeli Customs Authority, they doing their best to find ways to ease the situation and release as many shipments as possible.
