THE HAIFA BOMBING ORDEAL
The MUNTEBORG trades between the East Mediterranean ports of Haifa, Mersin, Antalya, Limassol and Alexandria. On July 16 of 2006 she was underway to Haifa, where she arrived at 05:00 hours that same day. Instructions were received from the Israeli Navy to proceed through a different safety lane from usual one, due to possible attacks from the north. The vessel berthed safely at 06:20 at the West Container Terminal.
The discharge activities started at 07:00 hours, after the vessel had been cleared by security authorities, the security level was raised to 2.
In the mean time the VANCOUVERBORG also arrived at the anchorage position of Haifa, but was instructed to sail back to a position about 15 miles South West of Haifa.
Shortly after sirens were sounded several times, announcing bomb attacks, cargo operations were stopped, bomb explosions could be seen north of the Port of Haifa. At 08:30 a bomb exploded just outside the pier, exactly where ships approach the harbor. At 08:50 the stevedores abandoned the work area, for bomb impacts were getting closer to the vessel’s position. The port authorities ordered pilots to take ships out of the harbour, handling tankers first. On the MUNTEBORG the stevedores, when bombing stopped for a while, started to place back the hatch pontoons.
At 11:15 hours a fragmentation bomb exploded at 30 meters from the vessels port side in the water, blasting out 5 of the superstructure’s windows. At 11:50 hours it was the MUNTEBORG’s turn to leave the port, the pilot without boarding the vessel, only giving instructions from the pilot boat, so he could quickly go to another ship, a large bulk carrier. We left the port leaving behind 6 hatch pontoons, so the vessel actually was not seaworthy. The authorities also instructed us to sail to the position where the VANCOUVERBORG and all other ships were drifting. Later the VANCOUVERBORG reported that shells had exploded not far from her drifting position, upon which the authorities ordered
