Cairo: Four international port operators have submitted bids in the prequalification stage of the tender for operating the controversial Bay Port in Haifa and the South Ashdod Port. They are Terminal Investment Ltd. (TIL), a subsidiary of containerline MSC; Eurogate; Manila-headquartered International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) and China’s Shanghai International Port (Group) Co.
The companies that pass the prequalification stage will enter the request for proposal (RFP) stage. The winner will plan, finance, and build the port’s operating areas.
“Construction of the new ports is going ahead at full speed. Two new ports will be built at the same time. The public good will be the only determining factor. There will be competition, efficiency, and the freedom to choose the service provider,” said Minister of Transport Yisrael Katz.
Plans to build Israel’s first private terminals have sparked protests from the nation’s port operators, but Tel Aviv says the new ports are vital to reduce logistics costs in the nation. [13/04/14]
