Dundalk Port

The Port of Dundalk is the fastest growing port in Ireland and has played an
important role in the development of the town. The main cargo imports are plasterboard,
feedstuff, oil, coal, timber and steel, exports are scrap metal and turf.

Larch 2-5-084.	Jan V 2-5-08.	Russian ship 24-4-08.	Koralle 24-4-08.
Roger20-4-08.	Geminus18-4-08.	Sea ems 4-4-08.	Sea libva 4-4-08.
Celtic fortune 21-3-08.	Theseus 4-4-08.		Winger 21-3-08.
Fehn castor 16-3-08	Velox 9-3-08	Sanna 3-3-08	Thunder 28-2-08
Bounder 26-2-08	Celtic endeavour 24-2-08	Paula 12-2-08	Onega 11-2-08
Union pearl 8-2-08.	Tanya 8-2-08.	Celtic pride 7-2-08. Susanna 6-2-08.	sea Shannon 7-2-08
Celtic Voyager 29-1-08	Geminus 29-1-08	Sandal 29-1-08	Linda 28-1-08
Vasily Malov 14-1-08	Vudi 14-1-08.	Sina b 13-1-08.	Fingal 7-1-08.

Casablanca 28-12-07.	Allegretto 27-12-07.	Lyrika 27-12-07.	Hav dolphin 26-12-07.
linda 20-12-07	aura 20-12-07	dornum 18-12-07	hydra 17-12-07
sea charente 13-12-07	Union Neptune 10-12-07.	Troubador 3-12-07.	Sea Shannon 3-12-07.
Katharina Siemer 30-11-07.	Krempetor 27-11-07.	Krempetor 27-11-07.	Uttum 13-11-07.
Geminus 03-11-07.	sea thames 28-10-07.	Linda Marijke 30-10-07.	Hermod 30-10-07
Union Sun 30-10-07.	Rms Goole 28-10-07.	wiebke d 28-10-07.jpg	Union Mercury 24-10-07.
Susanna 24-10-07.	Berit 17-10-07.	Hunter 13-10-07.	Sea Thames 12-10 -07.

Dundalk ’s coastal location also confers particular advantages in relation to the nature of access to and quality of port infrastructure. Dundalk is served by its own commercial port, which is operated by the Dundalk Port

Company. In addition, Dundalk has ease of access to Greenore and Drogheda ports, while the State’s largest port in Dublin is accessible within 1-1.5 hour’s drive time from Dundalk .

Dundalk Port Company (formerly the Dundalk Harbour Authority) was incorporated in May 2002 following the submission of a corporate plan to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in July 2001. The available figures indicate a continued growth in activity through Dundalk Port between 2001 and 2003, with the number of vessel arrivals to the port reaching 214 in 2003, implying a growth of 20.9% compared with the

number of arrivals in 1999. The gross tonnage handled through the port rose by 26.4% to 321,000 tonnes in 2003, suggesting also that there has been a rise in the average vessel capacity handled through the port.

In terms of vessel types handled, over the period examined, the port handled a mixture of liquid and dry bulk vessels, with the largest proportion of activity and tonnage (198 arrivals carrying 305,000 tonnes respectively in

2003) relating to the latter form of vessel. The port has traditionally handled a mixture of coal, gas and diesel fuel on a regular basis. However, we understand that the tonnage of fertiliser has increased significantly, while the port has also commenced importation of steel and timber.

Dundalk Port has undergone a number of improvements since 2003. The Port purchased a dredger in 2004 and then some 200,000 tonnes of mud has been removed from the port. In addition, vessels can now utilise the full length of the quay. These improvements have enabled the port to accommodate larger and we understand that heavier vessels and vessels of up to 115 metres in length and weighing up to 3,500 tonnes can now be accommodated at the port. Storage facilities are also being upgraded, including the addition of two new grain stores with an 8,000 tonne capacity, while planning permission has been sought for the addition of four new grain stores, which would bring storage capacity up to 20,000 tonnes. These improvements have contributed to increased traffic at the port in 2004.

It is also instructive to consider the views of companies/firms operating in the Dundalk region in relation to the strengths of Dundalk from the perspective of its seaport infrastructure. It is notable that the vast majority of firms responding to the survey (65.3%) consider Dundalk ’s proximity to seaports as an important or very important strength. As noted earlier, Dundalk is not only adjacent to its own port, but is also within easy reach of both Drogheda and Dublin ports. Moreover, upon completion of the Dublin Port Tunnel in 2006, freight traffic should be able to access Dublin Port within 1 hour’s drive time of Dundalk .

Furthermore, in relation to the quality and level of service of port infrastructure in Dundalk , a substantial proportion (46.9%) of firms regard the quality and level of service of port infrastructure as an ‘important strength’ or a ‘very important strength’ for the area.