Maersk Shipping halts Haifa port visits temporarily
2 Min Read
Maersk pauses vessel calls at Haifa port amid rising tensions between "Israel" and Iran. An Iranian missile strike shuts down Haifa refinery, threatening an energy crisis.
-
A Maersk cargo ship crosses the Gibraltar Strait near Tangier Med Port, Morocco, Sunday, April 20, 2025 (AP)
Container shipping company Maersk announced on Friday that it had temporarily paused vessel calls at "Israel's" Haifa port, as tensions escalate in the conflict between "Israel" and Iran.
The Danish company said it had not experienced any further disruptions to its scheduled operations in the region, despite the ongoing tensions and security concerns.
Adani Ports, which serves as the ports division of billionaire Gautam Adani's Adani Group, currently operates four ports outside Indian waters, including its stake in Haifa port. A spokesperson for the Adani Group had not yet responded to Reuters' emailed and texted requests for comment as of the reporting time.
In the past week, Haifa has been a target for Iranian missile strikes, which come in retaliation to the Israeli aggression that killed many civilians, top military commanders, and nuclear scientists.
Haifa refinery shuts down after Iranian strike
The Haifa refinery operator announced on June 16 that all operations were suspended after sustaining major damage from an Iranian missile strike, with the company confirming a complete shutdown of its facilities.
The company stated that the power station, which supplies part of the steam and electricity for its operations, suffered severe damage, while also reporting additional impacts across other facility infrastructure.
The company stated, “As a result, all refinery units and affiliated companies have been shut down,” indicating a full operational stoppage while damage assessments and possible repairs are being conducted.
The Haifa oil refinery is part of the largest petrochemical complex in "Israel", responsible for producing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and liquefied gas, and forms an important tenet of the Israeli economy; any disruptions to it could lead to an energy crisis and disrupt aviation, transport, and the Israeli industry.
