Dublin Port eyes expansion as trade rises
EXPORTS through Dublin Port jumped 4.4pc during the first half of 2017, putting the trade and tourism gateway on target for another record year.
Figures released last night show that total first-half trade volumes rose 2.9pc in the first six months of 2017, with the figure also boosted by a 1.9pc increase in imports.
The first half of the year included the busiest ever month at Dublin Port, when it handled 3.2m gross tonnes of freight in May. It handled a total of 17.9m tonnes of imports and exports in the first half of the year.
The continuing growth at the island’s busiest port has prompted the semi-state company to start work on its second masterplan project, with a scheme designed to provide additional capacity for future growth.
That project will include a single terminal for use by three of its five ferry operators – Irish Ferries, P&O, and Stena.
Dublin Port said the project will “greatly increase the utilisation of port lands” and provide better facilities for immigration controls, customs, security and other border inspection functions.
Chief executive Eamonn O’Reilly said the port intends to apply for planning permission for the scheme in late 2018.
He pointed out that trade volumes at Dublin Port have increased by 29pc over the past five years and if the rate continues, volumes will have doubled in 14 years.
Dublin Port is already engaged in the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) project, as well as development of a socalled ‘inland port’, on a 44-hectare site near Dublin Airport.
The ABR scheme is part of Dublin Port’s wider masterplan up to 2040, and is costing €277m and should be completed within about four years.
The ABR development will improve he port’s ability to handle large ships by deepening and lengthening three kilometres of the port’s seven kilometres of berths.
It will also deepen the port’s channel.