The agreement comes after a long period of talks, and follows the completion of Zim’s debt settlement, in which Zim expressed its readiness to restore its trans-shipment activity to Haifa. The company said that the decision to bring its trans-shipment activity back to Haifa was made, among other things, at the request of Haifa Port management, as well as out of operational and commercial considerations.
Zim transferred its trans-shipment activity to Piraeus in Greece because of concerns that its activity would be affected by labor disputes over reform of the ports. This meant a fall in activity at Haifa Port., which the current decision should reverse. ZIM CEO Rafi Danieli said, “We are happy to be returning to Zim’s home port of Haifa. We see Haifa Port as a modern and advanced port that is committed to efficiency and constant improvement in its service to customers. Zim is happy to return and to expand its cooperation with Haifa Port, with the aim of improving its service to customers in Israel and in the whole region.”