Overhauling and expansion of Israel’s two chief ports of Tel Aviv and Haifa will cost $35,000,000 to $40,000,000, and for Tel Aviv alone will mean a capacity increase to 750,000 tone a year and l,000 passengers a day, Dr. Israel Goldstein, Unites Palestine1 Appeal national chairman, disclosed today in a special report evaluating the Jewish state’s maritime status.
At the same time, the U.P.A. chairman said that plans for reorganizing Israel’s shipping call for a Jewish merchant fleet of about 15 to 20 units with a total capacity of about 90,000 tons, which would yield an annual gross income of $12,000,000 to $14,000,000 at present freight and passenger rates. An investment of approximately $20,000,000 would be required to purchase the necessary ships and to adapt those now in service.
Development of both Israel’s ports and shipping facilities would require a total capital investment of at least $55,000,000 of private and. public funds, Dr. Goldstein estimated. “While current projects for the port of Haifa are focused on enlargement and full utilization of Haifa harbor’s favorable natural conditions, the development of Tel Aviv port, which is not deep-water, will require more basic changes,” he said. Currently, Tel Aviv accounts for an export-import trade totaling at least 500,000 tons a year, most of which, however, has to be rerouted through Haifa due to Tel Aviv’s inadequate facilities.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
