The port director general said that the port should be regarded as a national strategic assets and if Zim would decide to cut off its service it would be a financial loss and a serious damage to the port work mix
 
Port2port was informed last week that Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd was seriously considering to end soon its direct container service between the port of Eilat and South Africa. The service currently employs 2 container ships calling at Eilat every five weeks.
 
Eilat Port is Israel's only non-Mediterranean harbor and serves as Israel's southern gatewayto Africa, Asia and the Far East.
 
Through it ships sail to the Far East, South Africa and Australia without having to pass through the Suez Canal, thus avoiding high passage tolls that increase the price of shipping.
The Port of Eilat is a modern state of the art facility. It has sophisticated cranes for cargo and containers, advanced support equipment and well organized storage areas.
 
It contains a deep-water jetty, able to service Panmax ships, as well as a jetty that services shallow hulls.
 
The port director general, Gideon Gulver, argued against such a decision saying that the port should be regarded as a national strategic assets and if Zim would decide to cut off its South African container service it would not only be a financial loss but also serious damage to the port work mix.
 
Gulver added that the port has an advantage over the two Mediterranean ports in serving Israel's trade with Far Eastern markets provided the government invest in proper transport infrastructure.