Three bids have been submitted in the technical stage for the tender to build Israel's two new ports. The bids concern the planned ports in Ashdod’s Southport terminal (HaDarom) and Haifa’s Bayport terminals (HaMifratz) with the cost of each estimated at about NIS 4 billion (about US$1.14 billion).

The new terminals are to be built on land that will be reclaimed and will feature facilities designed to handle Triple-E class vessels (18,000 TEU capacity).

At full construction, the terminals will have two quays with a total length of some 1,600m and maximum waterside depth of 17.3m. The three bids encompass five companies out of the seven that passed the pre-qualification stage.

The groups bidding for the tender are: a consortium of Shapir Civil and Marine Engineering Ltd. and Ashtrom Group; China Harbor represented in Israel by Maman - Cargo Terminals and Handling Ltd; and Shikun u'Binui Holdings Ltd. through Solel Boneh together with Ludreco from Luxembourg. These three groups are expected to submit financial bids for building the ports by May.