Ireland’s capacity to deal with shipping cargo will increase significantly with the opening of a new €127 million freight terminal at Dublin Port today. 

The development involves two modern jetties that will accommodate larger ferries and 3km of new quay walls. 

Dublin Port Company CEO Barry O’Connell said the opening of the new T4 is of vital significance to the economy. 

“T4 is all about increasing the capacity of Dublin Port and therefore, by association, national port capacity to enable national trade,” he said. 

“We will effectively create capacity for an incremental 220,000… units and that’s absolutely linked to our continued plans as an economy to grow.”

Dublin Port handles 80% of Ireland’s containerised trade, including 91% of trade from Britain and 68% from mainland Europe. 

However, in recent years, the port has struggled with capacity issues. 

“The reality is that 90% of all trade and goods in this country comes through our ports,” Mr O’Connell said. 

“80% of all containerised freight comes through Dublin Port; we’re currently operating at 91% on average, which means that at times, we’re at capacity. 

“So, T4 helps us to alleviate some of this and provides the room for us and, therefore, the economy to continue to grow at the rates that we’ve become accustomed to.” 

Wrong location?

It has been suggested that there is “no point” having Ireland’s main point located in Dublin.

Property developer Harry Crosbie it is a waste of precious space so close to the city centre and should be moved to the Midlands instead. 

“99% of cargo now goes onto containers,” he told The Hard Shoulder last week.

“Containers [are] landed on the ground in the middle of Dublin; there’s no need for that.

“Dublin is one of the few ports that has mainline tracks running right down alongside the ships.

“They could be landed on bogies and run out and the Port of Ireland should be in Portlaoise - in the middle of Ireland.

“So, the trains would be running day and night up and down.”

Main image: Containers at Dublin Port. Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie