New Directives from Israeli Ports Authority Compel Shipping Giant to Divert Cargo

Following the implementation of directives from the Israeli Ports Authority today, the ro-ro vessel GRANDE BENELUX, owned by Grimaldi, was forced to reroute and unload its cargo at the Heraklion port in Crete.

Grimaldi is one of the world's largest shipping companies, providing multi-purpose ro-ro services to Israel. It regularly transports vehicles and rolling cargo to Israel, as well as vital cargo such as heavy equipment, rail cars, and emergency vehicles. Now, Grimaldi, which has never ceased serving Israel throughout all emergency periods since the establishment of the state, is forced to unload its cargo outside the country's borders.

The directive from the Ports Authority, designed to free up vital port areas in Israel following the declaration of a 'special state of emergency' and to ensure the reception of essential cargo, has resulted in ro-ro vessels destined for unloading being forced to find alternative unloading ports outside Israel.

Industry sources noted that this unprecedented situation does not send a positive message about Israel's image globally. Moreover, the ro-ro vessels expected to arrive in the coming days carry vital cargo for the Israeli economy, such as emergency vehicles, rail cars, and locomotives, which were planned to arrive in Israel in the next shipments. This could directly delay the vital activity of the economy.

It should be recalled that in a letter from Uzi Yitzhaki, Chairman of the Israel Ports Company, to car importers at the beginning of the week, car importers were required to immediately remove stored vehicles from port areas to make room for essential cargo. Yitzhaki warned that if the directive is not implemented, the Ports Authority will be forced to halt the unloading of vehicles at the ports of Haifa and Ashdod.

At Alaluf, which represents Grimaldi in Israel, it was noted that the economic implications are broad. The damage from the new directives is not limited to imported vehicles but has wider economic consequences. They emphasized that Grimaldi's ro-ro vessels recently brought heavy industrial equipment and vital emergency vehicles to the Israeli economy.

It should be noted that the Ports Authority's directives, which came into effect on September 30, will last until October 14, subject to the extension of the state of emergency. The ports of Haifa and Ashdod were limited in their ability to store vehicles in their areas, with Ashdod and Haifa ports limited to storing up to 15,000 vehicles each, while the SIPG (Bay Port) was limited to only 4,000 vehicles.