Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd (ZIM) has notified importers and exporters that it will suspend use of the Israeli ports of Ashdod and Haifa for its Asia Med Pacific (AMP) service as of the end of September.
Reports said that Zim was cutting traffic through Israeli ports after suffering million-dollar losses since January due to delays and major port congestion.
The AMP service is one of Zim's main global route, serving Asian and Western European ports.
Reports say that Zim will replace Ashdod and Haifa port calls with Piraeus in Greece to serve the East Mediterranean basin.
The news of Zim's reduction of ship calls comes on the back of recent pleas by the Manufacturers' Association of Israel for the country's Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz to reduce delays at Israeli ports like 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,” he said.
He said there are currently delays of between 20-24 days for ships wanting to enter the port. He blamed a lack of port personnel and equipment.
Reports said that Zim was cutting traffic through Israeli ports after suffering million-dollar losses since January due to delays and major port congestion.
The AMP service is one of Zim's main global route, serving Asian and Western European ports.
Reports say that Zim will replace Ashdod and Haifa port calls with Piraeus in Greece to serve the East Mediterranean basin.
The news of Zim's reduction of ship calls comes on the back of recent pleas by the Manufacturers' Association of Israel for the country's Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz to reduce delays at Israeli ports like 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,” he said.
He said there are currently delays of between 20-24 days for ships wanting to enter the port. He blamed a lack of port personnel and equipment.