First Ship Unloads 27,000 Tons at Israel Shipyards' New Grain Terminal

Israel Shipyards has marked a significant logistical milestone with the commencement of operations at its new grain terminal. The terminal was inaugurated with the unloading of the ZEHMA LADY, a ship that arrived from Romania carrying approximately 27,500 tons of grain for feed. The project, which took two years to complete following a decade of planning and permit acquisition, includes an advanced unloading system that allows the movement of imports and grains via underground conveyors directly from the quay to the silos. The new system is designed to receive and store about 65,000 cubic meters of grain in the first phase, with the final plan expected to reach a capacity of 110,000 cubic meters.

Operationally, the terminal provides a solution to the long-standing infrastructure bottleneck in Israel's ports, which suffer from heavy unloading congestion and prolonged waiting times for import vessels. Currently, about 5.5 million tons of grain are imported into Israel each year, and the opening of the new gate is expected to increase competitiveness in the sector and reduce the costs of waiting that ultimately roll over to the consumer. The chosen unloading technology is a closed, green, pneumatic system that prevents dust and pollutant emissions and allows storage and loading of trucks without human contact, while maintaining environmental quality and high food hygiene standards.

The wider implications of the move go beyond just additional storage space; the terminal was recently connected to the national railway, allowing efficient movement of goods to the center and south of the country with minimal truck traffic on the roads.

Tzvika Schechterman, CEO of Israel Shipyards Industries, stated that the move will break the long-standing concentration in the field and strengthen the country's nutritional security. The opening of the terminal is part of the trend of expanding logistics services at the port, which currently includes a fleet of eight ships owned by the company, and lays the groundwork for future grain movement services to other countries in the region.

Schechterman stated: 'The launch of the new silos at Israel Shipyards is a strategic event not only for Israel Shipyards, but for the entire Israeli economy. We are proud to lead a move that will break the long-standing concentration in the field, increase competition and contribute to reducing the cost of the food basket for the consumer. The huge investment in advanced technologies will enable fast unloading and meticulous preservation of environmental quality. The move fits into our strategy to create 'multiple profit centers' and leverage the synergy between the port, waterline activity, industry, and logistics to continue growing the company.'