Port of Haifa
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The Port of Haifa is the largest of Israel's three major international seaports, which also include the Port of Ashdod, and the Port of Eilat. It has a natural deep water harbor which permits traffic all day and year long. Haifa Port serves both passenger and cargo ships. Annually, some 22 million tons of goods pass through the port. Over 1,000 people work at the port, and the number may rise to 5,000 when cruise ships dock there.[1]
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[edit] History
Haifa Bay has been a refuge for mariners since prehistoric times. When the crusaders conquered Haifa in the year 1100, it flourished into an important town, and served as the main port for Tiberius, the capital of the Galilee. The port fell into disrepair during the reign of the Mamelukes, and even had the reputation of a pirates’ lair in the 18th century.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Acre served as the main port for the region. However, the port eventually became clogged with silt, and was unable to accommodate large ships. The first person to comprehend the tremendous possibilities of a port in Haifa was Theodor Herzl, the father of Political Zionism, who in 1898 wrote a prophetic description of the town in his book AltNeuland. Construction of the port began in 1922, and officially opened on October 31, 1933. [2] The port allowed Haifa to blossom, and in 1936, the city had over 100,000 inhabitants. The port served as a gateway for thousands of immigrants to Israel after the Second World War.[3] With Israel’s borders sealed by its Arab neighbors after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Haifa served as a crucial gateway to the rest of the world, and helped Israel develop into an economic superpower. Today the port brings both passenger and cargo traffic to a bustling metropolis, much as Theodor Herzl predicted over a century ago.
The port has been the scene of two maritime incidents; one, the Patria disaster, killing 267, while the other, the loss of the Shelly, killing two people.
[edit] Facilities
The Port of Haifa contains many cargo terminals, and is capable of servicing many ships at once. Adjacent to the port is a railroad terminal, so that cargo may be distributed across the country. The port also features a fishing wharf, a yacht club, a sports marina, and a chemical terminal. In 2003 alone, the port processed over 20 million tons of cargo. In 2006, the port opened three new quays that allow for a much greater cargo handling capacity.
The Port maintains facilities for the United States Sixth Fleet.[4]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Radius of destruction - Haaretz - Israel News
- ^ "Troops on Guard as Britain Opens Harbor of Haifa", Chicago Daily Tribune, 1933-11-01, pp. 24. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ Samuels, Gertrude. "From Munich to Haifa: Journey Into the Light; For present-day Israeli immigrants, the trip is a dawn of hope after many years of dark tragedy.", The New York Times, 1949-08-21. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ [encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575544/Haifa.html Haifa] on Encarta
