Message From the CEO

2020 was a challenging year for Dublin Port but a year which demonstrated, yet again, the robustness of the Port’s cargo business, with full year volumes of 36.9 million gross tonnes, only 3.4% behind 2019.

Notwithstanding the decline of 3.4%, 2020 was the third busiest year for cargo in the long history of Dublin Port, with higher volumes recorded in only 2018 (38 million gross tonnes) and 2019 (38.1 million gross tonnes).

Whereas the cargo side of the Port’s business was resilient in a difficult year, the passenger side has been badly affected by the Covid 19 travel restrictions, with a 60% reduction in passenger numbers and tourist vehicles. However, with the roll-out of vaccines, we are hoping to see this business returning to normal levels later in the year. On the cruise side, however, the outlook is altogether bleaker, and it is unlikely we will see any cruise ships during 2021.

An important milestone

In November 2020, Dublin Port reached an important milestone in delivering Masterplan 2040 with the appointment of Grafton Architects to design the LiffeyTolka Project, the most important Port-City integration project to date.

The Liffey-Tolka Project will create a new public realm along a 1.4km dedicated cycle and pedestrian route linking the River Liffey with the Tolka Estuary through Dublin Port lands on the east side of East Wall Road and along Bond Road. The new linear space ranges from twelve metres to nine metres wide and will be an extension of the campshires on North Wall Quay.

The Liffey-Tolka Project will bring cyclists and pedestrians from the Liffey to the start of a second PortCity integration project, the Tolka Estuary Greenway.

The Tolka Estuary Greenway is a 3.2km route along the northern perimeter of Dublin Port overlooking the Tolka Estuary. Construction of Phase 1 (1.9km) has begun and works will be completed by Spring 2022. Phase 2 (1.3km) will be constructed over the following five years as part of large port infrastructure projects to deliver additional Ro-Ro freight capacity at the eastern end of Dublin Port.

Dublin Port Company will apply to Dublin City Council for planning permission for Grafton Architects’ design for the Liffey-Tolka Project by April 2021, with a target to commence construction by September 2021 and to complete the works by the third quarter of 2022. The new route will include a dedicated bridge for cyclists and pedestrians to safely cross over the busy Promenade Road, the key artery that links Dublin Port to the Dublin Port Tunnel and one of the most heavily trafficked roads in the country.

Construction of the new civic space will transcend the opening of the new T4 Ro-Ro freight terminal as part of the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project. As an indication of its scale, the T4 terminal will provide more Ro-Ro freight capacity than Rosslare Harbour. More importantly, the opening of T4 will allow Dublin Port Company to close one of the HGV entrances on East Wall Road and to redirect heavy goods traffic onto Dublin Port’s internal road network, thereby greatly reducing heavy traffic along one of the city’s most hostile stretches of urban road.

Critical national infrastructure

Dublin Port is critical national infrastructure and An Taoiseach emphasised the need to keep shops open and supply chains operating without interruption. Whereas the country can keep going with little activity, it cannot function without cargo continuing to move through Dublin Port.

These are unprecedented times but we are a small tight workforce who depend on and trust each other in equal measure. The commitment and professionalism which is the norm in Dublin Port will see us through these challenging times.

Eamonn O’Reilly CEO, Dublin Port Company