|
Today,
Israel's Port Authority faces the challenge of how
to ensure that Israel's ports in Ashdod, Haifa and
Eilat, will be able to deal with the growing
demand for their services. The development of the
ports are essential for Israel's continued export
oriented strategy and the promotion of tourism in
the region, as well as its plans to lower the
costs of imported goods.
Presently,
these ports are unable to deal with the pressures
on their services, as they are operating close to
their capacity levels and as they lack the needed
docking facilities and equipment, as well as
suitable connections with internal haulage
facilities. In 1994 over 5,400 ships docked in
Israeli ports, as compared to 3,600 in 1990 - a
50% increase in 5 years. Moreover, over this
period the ports witnessed a dramatic increase in
the movement of freight through their
Facilities
- in 1995 over 26,000 million tons passed through
Israel's ports as compared to 17,700 million tons
in 1990.
To
cope with this pressure, the port authorities have
already invested NIS 1 billion over 5 years.
However,
the Israel Port Authority has put together a
program which seeks to expand the port facilities
at Israel's three main ports. In order to put this
program in to operation, the Port Authority has
set itself three main goals:
1. To improve the level of service offered;
2. To modernize the port facilities;
3. To reduce costs and lower port tariffs.
To
implement these goals will require the Port
Authority to speed up its investment program,
update and approve its expansion plans, improve
its economic flexibility, as well as ensure that
each port can become economically independent. In
addition, it will be of the utmost importance that
Israeli ports expand their cooperation and use of
railway facilities and network in to their future
development plans.
According
to the Port Authority plans between 1995 and the
year 2000, the Authority seeks to invest NIS 6
billion in expanding and developing the port
facilities.
In
1995 a sum of NIS 556 million
was invested in the development
of the ports and railroads; This
sum, is more than double the
annual depreciation. A growth of
approximately 50% in the extent
of investments was noted in 1995
as compared with the previous
year. NIS 306 million and NIS
251 million were invested in the
ports and railways respectively.
In the port of Haifa, the
developments of the eastern
container terminal was completed
(the overall investment was
approx. NIS 350 million), and
the building of the passenger
terminal is being continued (an
investment of about NIS 23
million.) A comrehensive
renovation of the ports'
infrastructure and developement
of a fishing berth at the Kishon
is being carried out. In Ashdod,
the storage areas for containers
(an investment of approx. NIS 20
million), storage and imported
cars, and the loading and the
unloading area for trucks have
been expanded. The port is in
the process of re-equipment,
including 5 gantry carnes, 5
portal carnes and 4 arm derricks
(an overall investment of
approx. NIS 250 million).
In
the port of Eilat, a passenger
hall was erected, intended to
cater for the expected passenger
traffic, and the groundwork for
an additional storage area for
cars imported from the Far East
has been completed. In addition,
operational equipment for the
ports has been acquired for an
overall amount of NIS 18
million.
In
the Railways, the work to
complete a second track on the
Haifa-Tel Aviv
line
is continuing, a widespread
renovation operation of the
infrastructure has commenced,
and an extensive investment was
made in re-equipment cars,
passenger DMUs and cargo cars.
Furthermore, planning in
accordance with the master plan
is continuing in 1995, for the
first time since the
incorporation of the railways
into the Port Authority,
(investment deriving from the
state budget were made,)
particulary in planning.
Investments
in 1995
(Millions
of NIS, 12/95 prices)
|
|
1994
|
1995
|
|
Port
of Haifa
|
71
|
148
|
|
Port
of Ashdod
|
64
|
132
|
|
Port
of Eilat
|
4
|
5
|
|
Equipment
for Ports
|
37
|
18
|
|
General
|
1
|
3
|
|
Railways
|
183
|
251
|
|
Total
|
360
|
557
|
|
General Section
