HCT Port Unveils New Storage Area for Empty Containers

HCT Port Company opened a new dedicated area for storing empty containers on Pier 28 last Thursday. The new area is part of the new spaces the port received under the new arrangement of the Ministry of Transportation that came into effect in March this year, which is supposed to serve as a general cargo pier.

Under the new arrangement, a dedicated area for storing empty containers was made possible on a total area of 25 dunams. HCT Port Company has been, and continues to be, preparing the area by paving asphalt and building additional infrastructures that will enable the storage of empty containers. According to estimates, by the end of the coming week, the entire area will be ready in terms of the paved asphalt infrastructures.

As mentioned, the new area is in the running-in period and already during the last weekend about 200 empty containers were stored in it to the satisfaction of the port management and customers.

Avi Weinstein, Deputy CEO of Operations at HCT Port, said in a conversation with PORT2PORT: "We opened the new area for the benefit of storing empty containers. The port has done and is doing everything possible to improve the service to customers. The port operates around the clock 24 hours a day. We encourage customers to come and receive service also in the evening and night hours. Anyone who wants to come at night can do so by coordinating in advance to allow the gates to be opened."

According to Weinstein, the new dedicated area will eventually be able to store about 3,500 empty containers that will be stored up to 6 floors high. Weinstein emphasized that this is the initial running-in stages of the dedicated area but estimated that the new area will meet the existing demands.