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Local Info:  Time | Holidays | Notices
Shore:  Banks
Crew:  Leave | Repatriation | ID Cards
Misc:  Authority
Report:  Report
General Information for Israel
Geo-political:
Capital City: Jerusalem.
Nationality: (noun) Israeli, (adjective) Israeli.
Population: 7,233,701.
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 972.
Number of Internal Airports: 30.
Major Languages Spoken: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language.
Economy:
Currency: 1 New Israeli Sheqel (ILS) of 100 New Agorot.
Main Industries: High-technology projects (communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles and footwear.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Other Maritime Claims: Continental Shelf: to depth of exploitation.
Coastline Extent: 273 km.
Climate: Temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas.
Natural Resources: Timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays and sand.
Natural Hazards: Sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes.
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley.
Average Temperatures: 
Month High Low
January 21° C 10° C
June 39° C 24° C
September 39° C 25° C
CHARTS: 
Notice to Mariners issued by the Administration of Shipping and Ports are available form the Ministry of Transport website. asp.mot.gov.il/en/shipping/notice2mariners/
DOCUMENTS:  Shipping forms issued by the Administration of Shipping and Ports are available form the Ministry of Transport website. asp.mot.gov.il/en/shipping/shipping-forms/
ISPS COMPLIANCE:  Israeli ports are ISPS compliant.
Foreign ships without a suitable certificate under the ISPS rules will not be able to dock at Israeli ports. Their entry into an Israeli port will not be permitted.
Ships that carry the proper certificates and which on their way to Israel docked in ports not approved under the ISPS code will have their entry delayed by the security factors in the ports (it is possible that their entry into Israeli ports will be forbidden).
Ships that carry the proper certificates and which on their way to Israel docked in ports approved under the ISPS code, but which carry a cargo whose source is from a non-approved port (a cargo that was brought to the ship through transshipment), will have their entry delayed by the security factors in the ports (it is possible that their entry into Israeli ports will be forbidden).
Ships' Agents are required to ensure with the ship owners they represent that the ships are equipped with the suitable certificates, that security officers have been appointed and that they have all the information required for communications when necessary under the ISPS code.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:  Please be advised that all craft inbound to Israeli ports are required to transmit an IMOT Report when passing the 100 n.m. (25 n.m. for small craft) off the coast of Israel. The IMOT Report must be sent to Israeli Navy by fax or email. Israeli Navy will confirm receipt by Inmarsat C.
Israeli Navy F: +972 (3) 606 4567. [email protected]
Please note that crew report sent by email must be sent as attachment. The attached file should be downloaded from
eng.israports.co.il/TargetServices/Pages/download.aspx/
Note, the data is received by a computerised process and as such, the following must apply.
  1. The attached file must be of the approved format only.
  2. The attached file name must be ``crewreport.xls''.
  3. The subject name must be ``crewreport''.
If vessel is not equipped with Inmarsat, or if communication fails, IMOT Report should be sent through RCC Haifa. It is a good practice to keep RCC Haifa copy with every report to the Israeli Navy. Upon passing 25 n.m. off the coast, VHF contact with Israeli Navy should be established on VHF Channel 16, and advise the following:
  1. name/call sign
  2. present position, course and speed
  3. ETA.
Please note that the contact with the Israeli Navy is not a substitute to submitting an IMOT Report.
RCC Haifa: MMSI 004280001. F: +972 (4) 863 2117. E: [email protected] VHF Channel 16, 70 (DSC), 2187.5 kHz (DSC), 4207.5/6312/8414.5 MHz (DSC); a working channel/frequency will be subsequently assigned.
IMOT Report:  The following should be reported:
  1. name of ship and previous name (if any)
  2. international call sign
  3. Flag and port of registry
  4. IMO number
  5. MMSI
  6. satellite tel. and telex number
  7. mobile phone number
  8. year of build
  9. g.t.
  10. ship type and cargo on board
  11. number of crew and passengers
  12. Agent's name, telephone, fax
  13. name of owner and operator
  14. Is the ship holding a valid International Ships Security Certificate (ISPS)?
  15. What is the security level on board (1,2,3)?
  16. Are there any guns or weapons on board? If positive, specify type and quantity
  17. last and previous port, date of departure
  18. port of destination
  19. position, course and speed
  20. ETA (UTC)
  21. Crew List including: name, rank, nationality, residence (country & city), age, gender, seniority in company, date of sign on, Passport and Seaman's Book number
  22. confirmation whether AIS is activated; note, AIS must be activated at all times. Failure to do so is an offence.
Ships which do not transmit an IMOT Report according to the above procedure or do not comply with ISPS Code, will not be permitted to enter Israeli territorial waters.
Please note that the agent may be requested to furnish additional details to be submitted 48 hours prior arrival.
MEDICAL:  Healthcare in Israel is not free and medical treatment can be expensive. Hospitals will insist on payment and may take legal action to delay departure until bills are met. Make sure you have adequate health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
HOLIDAYS:  Passover (2 days during April); Independence Day (1 day end April/beginning May); First Harvest Day (1 day end May/beginning June); Jewish New Year (2 days, September); Day of Atonement (1 day end September); Feast of Tabernacles (2 days, October).
NOTICES:  Shipping Notices issued by the Administration of Shipping and Ports are available form the Ministry of Transport website. asp.mot.gov.il/en/shipping/shipping-notices/sn-g/915-sn-g-1-b/
BANKS:  There are ATMs in Israel and Jerusalem that accept international cards. There are fewer ATMs in the West Bank and Gaza. Scottish and Irish banknotes cannot be exchanged in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Money transfer through Western Union to a local Israeli post office normally takes 3-4 hours during a normal working day. Post offices and banks in Israel and Jerusalem close from midday on Friday to Sunday morning. In the West Bank and Gaza they are usually just closed on Fridays.
SHORE LEAVE:  There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners, and on public transport.
During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset are forbidden for Muslims (though not for children under the age of 8). Although alcohol will be available in some hotels and restaurants, drinking alcohol elsewhere may cause offence. As a courtesy, you should avoid drinking, eating, and smoking in public places in the OPTs during Ramadan.
REPATRIATION:  You should expect lengthy personal questioning and baggage searches by security officials on arrival and departure from Israel. Electrical items, including laptops, may be taken from departing passengers for security inspection and either stored in the aircraft baggage hold, or returned to you in your home country. Damage may occur.
If you arrive with valuable personal items (computers, camcorders etc.) you may be required to pay a deposit that is refundable on or after departure.
Israeli security officials have on occasion requested access to travellers’ personal email accounts or other social media accounts as a condition of entry.
IDENTIFICATION CARDS:  Carry identification with you at all times (e.g. a photocopy of the personal details and entry stamp pages of your passport).
Since January 2013 a pilot scheme has been introduced whereby visitors, on entry, are given an entry card instead of an entry stamp on arrival. You should keep this card with your passport until you leave.
AUTHORITY:  Ministry of Transport - State of Israel, Administration of Shipping & Ports, Technical Division, Building B'15A, Pal-Yam Street, PO Box 806, Haifa 31999, Israel. Tel: +972 (4) 863 2233. Fax: +972 (4) 863 2133. http://asp.mot.gov.il Contact: Director General.