Fenit’s recovery continues as port traffic levels stay on an even keel

FENIT Harbour had another busy year in 2016 with traffic levels through the port remaining steady.

The latest available figures on maritime traffic provided by the Central Statistics Office show that in 2016 20 cargo vessels, with a total combined tonnage of 187,000 tonnes, passed through the port.

This compares favourably with 21 vessels that transported goods through Fenit in 2015 and 19 vessels in 2014.

Management and stakeholders in the port will be pleased with the figures which show the port has enjoyed a significant recovery since the height of the recession.

During the global economic downturn traffic levels in the port plunged, falling from 21 vessels in 2008 to just nine in 2010.

A recovery began in 2011 when, on the back of a global recovery, traffic through the port increased with 15 cargo vessels using the port.

2015 was the busiest year in Fenit since 2000 with 21 vessels moving 32,000 tonnes of cargo through the port.

As has been the case for the last decade cargo traffic through Fenit remains entirely based on exports with no cargo brought in to Ireland through the port since 2007 when a relatively modest 1,000 tonnes of cargo was imported through Fenit. This was just a fraction of the 23,000 tonnes imported via Fenit in 2000.

While 2016 was busy in terms of traffic through the port it should be noted that the actual amount of cargo that was moved through Fenit fell significantly, dropping from the 32,000 tonnes recorded in 2015 to 23,000 in 2016.