Liner operator Zim is to pass on an Israel war risk surcharge to customers following a massive increase in insurance premium for ships trading to the country’s ports.
Zim said it will pass on the additional war risk premium charges “at cost”. Additional fees range from $50 per teu to $100 per teu, depending on the service.
Zim said war risk underwriters had told it that insurance rates could be changed every 24 hours depending on the country’s changing risk profile.
Following the Hamas attacks on Israel, the country’s major ports have mostly continued to operate as normal — including road and rail links — with the exception of the tanker port of Ashkelon, which is now closed.
Ashkelon is the closest Israel port to the Gaza Strip.
The nearby southern Israel container and dry bulk port of Ashdod remains open, although it is not accepting hazardous cargoes.
Liner operators have told customers they will not accept bookings for some IMO-class dangerous cargoes for Ashdod.
Last week, Taiwanese liner operator Evergreen called force majeure on a scheduled port call at Ashdod by its 1,778-teu feeder container ship Ever Cozy (built 2021).
The move opened the question of whether Ashdod can be considered a safe port under the terms of charterparty contracts.
Last week, Gard’s vice president of defence Marie Kelly said that while Ashkelon might be considered unsafe, the situation as Ashdod is “more ambiguous”.
She said at present, Ashdod “is unlikely to be considered unsafe”.
Israel’s main port at Haifa is operating as normal.
