UN/LOCODE: ILHFA📍 Israel

Port of Haifa (UN/LOCODE ILHFA)

❖ Coordinates: 32.7940°N, 34.9896°E

❖ Time Zone: Asia/Jerusalem

❖ UN/LOCODE: ILHFA

## About the Port The Port of Haifa (UN/LOCODE: ILHFA) is the principal deep-water maritime gateway on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel, situated at coordinates 32.7940463° N, 34.989571° E within the Asia/Jerusalem timezone (UTC+2, UTC+3 during daylight saving). Anchored in the natural bay at the foot of Mount Carmel, the port serves as a multi-modal hub for containerized freight, bulk commodities, general cargo, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) traffic, and passenger/cruise operations. As a strategic node in Israel’s external trade, Haifa is operated under a long-term concession by the Haifa Port Company↗, which manages terminal assets previously administered by the Israel Ports Authority. ### Geographic Setting Haifa’s latitude and longitude place the harbor along the Levantine Basin, offering direct access to the Mediterranean shipping lanes that link the Suez Canal with European, North African, and trans-Atlantic markets. The port’s protected roadstead is shielded by engineered breakwaters, mitigating the prevailing southwestern swells and enabling year-round operations. The metropolitan adjacency facilitates rapid integration with national road network Route 2 (Coastal Highway) and Israel Railways’ coastal line. ### Port Classification Classified as a mixed-use commercial seaport, ILHFA accommodates Panamax and post-Panamax vessels, naval auxiliary calls, and cruise liners. Its customs district is designated under Israeli port regulations, with free-zone enclaves supporting transshipment and value-added logistics. ## History The maritime history of Haifa predates modern containerization; a modest Ottoman-era anchorage existed in the 19th century. Systematic modernization commenced during the British Mandate for Palestine, when survey work in the 1920s identified the bay as the optimal location for a deep-water port. The first concrete quay was completed in 1929, and a expanded harbor with additional breakwaters opened in 1933, immediately becoming the primary outlet for Mandate-era trade. ### Milestones of Development During the Second World War, Haifa functioned as a critical Allied supply and repair base. Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the port absorbed massive immigrant inflows and absorbed cargo previously routed via Jaffa. The 1950s and 1960s saw the construction of specialized bulk piers and the extension of the main breakwater. In the early 2000s, the Israel Ports Authority initiated a container-terminal modernization program, introducing ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes. A landmark privatization occurred in 2021 when a private consortium secured a 30-year concession, ushering in expanded automated yard operations. ## Infrastructure & Facilities The Port of Haifa encompasses an aggregated quay length exceeding 3,500 meters distributed across multiple specialized terminals. Principal container aprons provide alongside depths between 14 and 17 meters, sufficient for vessels with drafts up to 16 meters. The harbor basin spans approximately 1.2 million square meters of sheltered water, complemented by more than 800,000 square meters of paved storage yards. ### Berth Specifications - **Container Terminal**: 4 post-Panamax berths, equipped with 12 STS cranes and a fleet of rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs). Annual throughput capacity approximates 1.5 million TEU, though recent yearly volumes have ranged near 1.2–1.4 million TEU. - **Bulk & General Cargo**: Dedicated berths for grain, cement, steel coils, and project cargo with conveyor and silo infrastructure. - **Ro-Ro and Passenger**: A modern passenger terminal handles cruise vessels up to 300 meters; adjacent Ro-Ro ramps serve automotive imports and ferry linkages to Cyprus and Greece. ### Logistics & Intermodal Onsite rail sidings connect directly to the national freight corridor, enabling block trains to inland depots such as Lod and the Galilee. The free trade zone offers bonded warehousing, cold storage, and light assembly. Port community system (PCS) integration streamlines customs clearance under the ILHFA code. Oversight of national port policy and infrastructure standards is coordinated by the Israeli Ports Company↗. ## Economic Importance Haifa port is a cornerstone of the Israeli economy, processing a substantial share of the nation’s maritime foreign trade. The northern region, with its concentration of petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and high-technology industries, depends on the port for both import of raw materials and export of finished goods. Direct employment exceeds 2,000 port workers, with ancillary logistics and transportation jobs multiplying that figure several-fold. ### Contribution to National Trade As denoted by UN/LOCODE ILHFA, the facility is the designated customs entry point for the Haifa district, handling roughly one-third of Israel’s containerized imports and a comparable portion of exports. The port’s cruise segment contributes to tourism receipts, while naval and coast-guard liaison supports national security logistics. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo The port’s maritime connectivity is anchored in the East-Med string service loop: vessels transit the Suez Canal from Far Eastern load centers (Shanghai, Singapore, Busan), call at Haifa, then proceed to Piraeus, Genoa, and North European hubs (Rotterdam, Hamburg). Trans-Atlantic services link Haifa with the U.S. East Coast (New York/NJ, Savannah). ### Container Lines & Services Major global alliances maintain weekly calls, with cargo predominately consisting of consumer electronics, apparel, machinery, and chemicals. Bulk inflows include grain from the Black Sea and North America, cement from Greece, and coal for nearby power stations. Outbound flows feature potash, phosphates, and manufactured goods. The passenger terminal supports seasonal ferry and cruise routes, reinforcing Haifa’s role as a multifaceted Levantine port. With continuous capital investment and digitalization, the Port of Haifa (ILHFA) remains pivotal to Israel’s maritime resilience, balancing commercial efficiency with strategic geopolitics in the eastern Mediterranean.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

ILHFA

Country

Israel

Province / Region

N/A

Latitude

32.794046

Longitude

34.989571

Timezone

Asia/Jerusalem

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Haifa?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Haifa is ILHFA.

Where is Port of Haifa located?

The Port of Haifa is located in Israel. Its coordinates are 32.7940°N, 34.9896°E.

What time zone is Port of Haifa in?

Port of Haifa operates in the Asia/Jerusalem time zone.

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height0.88 m

Wave Direction284°

Swell Height0.88 m

Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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