The Manufacturers' Association of Israel has asked the country's Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz to take action to reduce delays at the Israeli port of Ashdod.
“The situation at the Ashdod Port is catastrophic,” said Zvi Plada, chairman of the Sea and Air Transportation committee at the Association.
“Ship owners are threatening to abandon the port, while the Transport Ministry and the port's management are not acting swiftly to find a solution for the crisis,” said Plada.
According to Plada, there are currently delays of between 20 and 24 days for ships wanting to enter the port. He blamed a lack of port personnel and equipment.
Plada said the delays were costing import and export companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in storage fees, late fines and canceled orders.He warned that the situation could get worse as the summer came to an end and the busy winter season started.
The port has blamed congestion on the high volume of imports prior to the High Holidays and the re-routing of ships from Haifa to Ashdod because of renovation work on Haifa's facilities.
Ashdod port authorities also say the waiting time for ships is five days, not the three weeks claimed by the Manufacturers' Association.
The association, together with the Shipper's Council and the Chamber of Shipping, presented Mofaz with suggestions for easing congestion in Israel's ports four months ago.
Relations with export customers have already been strained due to workers at Ashdod striking in February to protest working conditions and again March over outsourcing operations.
“The situation at the Ashdod Port is catastrophic,” said Zvi Plada, chairman of the Sea and Air Transportation committee at the Association.
“Ship owners are threatening to abandon the port, while the Transport Ministry and the port's management are not acting swiftly to find a solution for the crisis,” said Plada.
According to Plada, there are currently delays of between 20 and 24 days for ships wanting to enter the port. He blamed a lack of port personnel and equipment.
Plada said the delays were costing import and export companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in storage fees, late fines and canceled orders.He warned that the situation could get worse as the summer came to an end and the busy winter season started.
The port has blamed congestion on the high volume of imports prior to the High Holidays and the re-routing of ships from Haifa to Ashdod because of renovation work on Haifa's facilities.
Ashdod port authorities also say the waiting time for ships is five days, not the three weeks claimed by the Manufacturers' Association.
The association, together with the Shipper's Council and the Chamber of Shipping, presented Mofaz with suggestions for easing congestion in Israel's ports four months ago.
Relations with export customers have already been strained due to workers at Ashdod striking in February to protest working conditions and again March over outsourcing operations.