Zim vessel returns stranded Israeli medical team from Cyprus
Ports mobilize rapid turnaround operations during Operation Roaring Lion.
The Zim Australia vessel docked at the Port of Haifa on Monday carrying 18 doctors from Israeli hospitals who had been classified as having essential specialties during Operation Roaring Lion. The ship collected the medical team from the port of Limassol in Cyprus and transported them back to Israel.
After completing a rapid turnaround, the vessel has already departed Haifa and is en route back to Limassol to retrieve another group of medical personnel who were stranded abroad and made their way independently to the designated collection point.
The Port of Haifa, owned by the Adani-Gadot Group, continues to operate fully and without interruption during Operation “Roaring Lion.” The port is preparing to receive an Israeli passenger ferry arriving from Limassol later Tuesday. As a facility that routinely handles both Israeli and international cruise ships, Haifa is equipped to process passengers efficiently.
“Even in these complex days, the maritime gateway of the State of Israel remains open and operational, driven by a sense of mission, national responsibility and full commitment to the Israeli economy and its security,” said Haifa Port Director General David Cohen.
The Herzliya Marina is also assisting in the effort to repatriate Israelis stranded abroad. The marina has activated an emergency terminal to receive and dispatch civilian vessels, while managing border control procedures for arrivals and departures through the Herzliya Tourism Development Company.
Meanwhile, the first rescue voyage organized by Amsalem Tours, which won a Ministry of Transportation tender for evacuation operations, departed Sunday. The vessel, which can carry up to 1,200 passengers, has docked at the port of Piraeus in Greece. In the coming days, it is expected to collect Israelis from Limassol and transport them back to Israel.
