[article] Ports capacity adequate - report

Navan Junction

Lorna Siggins, Irish Times, 30/09/2006

A new study of Irish seaports has found there is "significant available capacity" for lo-lo (load on, load off) traffic, and that current planning will meet future demands.


Minister of State for transport Pat the Cope Gallagher told a conference in Galway that this was one of the main findings of the capacity study.

Addressing the Irish Ports Association, Mr Gallagher said the review by Fisher Associates was more optimistic than a similar report published by Ibec. The review found that current available capacity for ro-ro (roll on, roll off) traffic also existed, but was less so than in the case of lo-lo, Mr Gallagher said.

Six proposals for lo-lo expansion were received from Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Greenore, Shannon-Foynes and Waterford. Proposals for ro-ro expansion were received from Drogheda and Rosslare.

© The Irish Times

mike65

Bellview in Waterford (or South Kilkenny for the pernickity) has huge potential for volume expansion and being nearly a days sailing closer to the continent than Foynes would appear to be the obvious candidate for boosting traffic, the City bypass will aid the case.

road_high

mike65 wrote:

Bellview in Waterford (or South Kilkenny for the pernickity) has huge potential for volume expansion and being nearly a days sailing closer to the continent than Foynes would appear to be the obvious candidate for boosting traffic, the City bypass will aid the case.

Plus it's in the east too where most of the demand is.. Sounds pretty stupid to develop a port like Foynes on the west coast ( as it would increase journey times by sea). Waterford is nearest to Europe from a geographical point of view, all it needs is decent road access.