Strategic Development Master Plan

The IPC’s long term strategic development master plan
has a 50 year planning horizon, with interim short and
mid-term development stages. The centerpiece of the
plan are the development alternatives which create a
framework for realizing one of the port reform's primary
goals - the involvement of the private sector and
stimulation of a competitive environment.
The Israeli government based on the Transport Minister's
recommendation authorized the IPC to move ahead
with first phase of development planning and
design a new container terminal at each port
estimated to cost $ 1billion each, with the goal of
bringing the first terminal into operations in 2015.

Israeli Government Approves First Stage Development of 50-Year Strategic Master Plan

On May 27, 2007, the Israel government has approved the first stage development of the Israel Ports Company recently completed fifty year strategic development master plan.

The master plan was developed as a joint effort by an international and local team that included Royal Haskoning port planners and designers, marine engineers, economists, strategic planners, environmental specialists, traffic engineers, industrial engineers and others. The plan provides a vision for the long term, as well as short term, development of Haifa and Ashdod ports in a phased approach based on demand growth, with special emphasis on introducing increased competition and participation of the private sector in the Israeli port industry.

The plan highlights include the potential to develop a number of independent container terminals with a
minimum quay length of 1,000m and a terminal width of 600m. The terminals will be designed to accommodate Suez-max container ships with dimensions similar to the latest Maersk vessels. The plan considers the potential to attract further transshipment, as well as transit traffic, as changes in the geopolitical situation allow. Road and rail improvements that will improve inland cargo delivery times are outlined so that the appropriate bodies address such transport needs.

Investing in the Present- Looking for the Future

A long term port development plan is necessary in light of the competition between various shoreline users (i.e. military, power plants, ports, desalination plants, recreational and urban development, etc.) for Israel's limited coastline. Considering that over 98% of Israel's international commerce moves via its seaports and that container traffic has been and is expected to continue to double every ten years, failure to plan ahead and dedicate coastline for seaport development will inhibit Israel's economic development and competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The Israel Ports Company is in the midst of an international tender for design, consulting and general supervision services required for the development of the first phase terminal which should be completed and ready for operations by the 2015. The design services include breakwater, quay, dredging, land reclamation and terminal development.