ABOUT
Founded in 1969 by Dr. Naftali Wydra, the Wydra Center for Strategic Shipping Research stands as a beacon of scholarly excellence and pioneering research in maritime studies. Since its establishment, the center has fostered deep connections within the Israeli shipping community and marked its history with significant milestones. In 1975, the center conducted its first seminal research on Israel's shipping industry, establishing its reputation in maritime studies. A pivotal moment came in 1987 when the center relocated to the University of Haifa, establishing a dedicated shipping library that has become a vital resource for scholars and industry practitioners.
With over five decades of experience, the Wydra Center has completed more than 150 studies on maritime and port-related topics, cultivating a reputation for rigorous analysis and insightful findings. This depth of knowledge has positioned us as a respected center for academia, the maritime community, government bodies, and the private sector. We are committed to advancing shipping and port studies, emphasizing the publication and distribution of scholarly work, and executing specialized surveys and studies.
Our long-standing partnership with Israel's Ministry of Transportation has been particularly fruitful, allowing us to contribute valuable insights to national maritime policies and strategies. The center's library, housed at the University of Haifa, has become a cornerstone of our mission to be a hub of maritime scholarship, providing a home for researchers and industry professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of shipping and port-related issues.
In 2024, we embarked on a significant digitization project in collaboration with the University of Haifa Library, underscoring our dedication to preserving our legacy and extending the reach of our research to a global audience. As we look to the future, the Wydra Center remains committed to shaping the landscape of maritime research and policy, continuing to evolve and embrace new technologies and methodologies to address the ever-changing challenges in the shipping industry.
Naftali Heinz Wydra
Prof. Naftali Heinz Wydra is a monumental figure in Israel's maritime industry, celebrated as a founding pioneer of the nation's shipping industry and the visionary behind the esteemed Wydra Institute for Shipping, Ports, and Aviation Studies. Born in Leipzig, Germany, in October 1909, Wydra's journey was pivotal when he immigrated to Israel in 1933, equipped with a rich academic foundation in law, constitution, and economics.
From 1936 to 1947, Wydra helmed the Jewish Agency's Naval Department, where his innovative research fueled the development of Israel's fishing industry. He founded fishing-based settlements along the Mediterranean coast and the Sea of Galilee, known locally as Kinneret.
These settlements played a critical role in supporting immigration to Mandatory Palestine in collaboration with the Palyam and The Mossad for Aliya Bet. Wydra's leadership also saw the empowerment of Hebrew laborers in port activities and maritime professions, notably through establishing the 'Haifa Nautical School' at the Hebrew Technion in 1938.
Wydra's tenure as the inaugural CEO of Kedem, and subsequently Zim, from 1947 to 1966, marked a golden era in Israel's maritime commerce. Under his guidance, Zim managed an expansive fleet of around 150 vessels, including passenger, tanker, freight, and bulk carrier ships, with 70 directly owned by the company.
He was pivotal in launching 17 regular shipping lines, introducing Israeli shipping to numerous foreign ports, some of which had previously been accessible only to partnership companies from developing nations.
Between 1969 and 1981, as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ports Authority in Israel, Wydra oversaw a transformative period in which Israeli ports embraced containerization, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and global connectivity.
In 1969, Wydra established the Israeli Institute for Shipping Research, later known as the Wydra Institute for Shipping, Ports, and Aviation Research. His foresight aimed at fostering a theoretically oriented approach to maritime research, creating a robust database to aid Israeli decision-makers. The Institute's focus spanned transportation, naval transport, port planning and development, and various other maritime and ecological topics.
Wydra's final legacy act was relocating the Research Institute to the University of Haifa in 1987, turning its library into a pivotal resource hub for maritime knowledge. The Institute offers expert opinions and professional advice and has become a leading center for arbitration in shipping economics. The University of Haifa recognized Wydra's unparalleled contributions by awarding him the title of Associate Professor, and the Haifa Municipality honored him with honorary citizenship, celebrating a lifetime devoted to advancing Israel's maritime domain.
Yehuda Hayuth
Yehuda Hayuth, born in Jerusalem to Eliezer and Margalit, spent his formative years in Kiryat Haim. His service in the Israel Defense Forces as a paratrooper included participation in the Battle for Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. Hayuth's academic journey began at the University of Haifa, where he earned a B.A. in Geography and General History. He then obtained an M.A. with honors in Geography, specializing in Urban and Regional Planning, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His educational pursuit culminated in a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, USA, focusing on Maritime Transportation Systems and Port Planning.
Hayuth's expertise in the maritime field gained international recognition in 1980 when his innovative approach to long-term port planning won first prize in a competition hosted by the Rotterdam Port Authority and M.I.T. His reputation as a leading expert in shipping and ports grew, and he played a crucial role in integrating the Wydra Institute into the University of Haifa. Hayuth's career at the university progressed rapidly, leading to his appointment as Vice President for Administration in 1992 and his election as president in 1995, a position he held until 2004.
After his tenure as university president, Hayuth led an integrated transport project team in the European Union, further expanding his international influence. He later returned to the Wydra Institute, where he continued contributing his valuable maritime studies expertise until his retirement. Throughout his career, Hayuth's work significantly advanced the understanding and development of shipping and port systems, impacting academia and industry.
