Port of Eilat

The Port of Eilat is the only Israeli port on the Red Sea, located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba.HistoryThe Port of Eilat opened in 1947 and is today mainly used for trading with Far East countries. It allows Israeli shipping to reach the Indian Ocean without having to sail through the Suez Canal. Egyptian naval blockades of the Straits of Tiran which control access to Eilat featured prominently in the events which led to two major Arab-Israeli Conflicts: The Sinai War and the Six-Day War.Ship traffic at Eilat is relatively low (compared to Israel's two large seaports on the Mediterranean). One reason is that Eilat is situated at a considerable distance from the center of the country. Another is the fact that unlike the country's other main seaports, Eilat's is yet to be served by a railway line (the nearest railhead is located hundreds of kilometers to the north). Also, coastal tourism uses compete with any prospects of expanding the port's facilities.Patrol Boats Squadron 915 of the Israeli Navy is based here.