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Issue 1 2020 - FBJ Ireland


Europe grew very strongly by 10.7%. “The eff ect of


the deployment in recent years of new ships on direct routes to Continental Europe by shipping lines such as Irish Ferries and CLdN is clear to be seen and we expect to see this trend continue as trading patterns adapt post Brexit.” He added: “The continued


large growth in unitised volumes underpins the need for Dublin Port


at Dublin Inland Port and on the redevelopment of the port’s road network to provide the capacity needed as the port grows to maximum capacity utilisation by 2040.”


During 2019, Dublin submitted


the Masterplan’s second strategic infrastructure development, the MP2 Project, to An Bord Pleanála (the Planning Board) and hopes to get a decision in the coming months. The scheme is designed


///IRELAND


Change is in the wind for Rosslare


Dutch-owned Project freight management company Xellz has secured 200,000sq m of space next to the port of Rosslare in southern Ireland as a base for construction of four off shore wind farms in the locality. The prime site is next to the


port and gives direct access to the quay for loading and off loading of equipment as well as for pre- installation assembly operations. In addition, there is over 100,000sq m available for small and medium enterprises that wish to get involved in the near future renewable projects. The port itself is also being


Company to continue the major €1 billion investment programme from now to 2029. In December, we fi nalised a €300m private placement debt facility and, with the fi nance now in place, capital investment will continue apace during 2020 on the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project,


to greatly increase capacity for ro ro and lo lo without expansion into Dublin Bay, a key commitment in the Masterplan. The port also completed a series


of projects during 2019 to provide the border infrastructure needed for whatever level of checks are ultimately required under Brexit.


New linkspan arrives


The port of Dublin took delivery of its new Linkspan 7 on 23 January as part of the ongoing Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project,


the fi rst major capital development


project of the Port’s Masterplan 2040. The linkspan, which was built


Port of Waterford 210x140 Advert1.pdf 1


at the Ravestein yard in, Deest, Netherlands will be positioned at Cross Berth Quay on Berth 26.


30/09/2019 17:02


upgraded to handle the expected upsurge in traffi c. Xellz president and chief


executive Peter Bouwhuis (pictured) says the aim is to ensure that there is enough land for the storage and assembly of wind turbine blades for the sites, which are all close to the port area. Auctions for the work are still at


an early stage but the land needs to be compacted and the area prepared in time for the start of work, expected in about two years’ time. The port, whose main business


is the ferry services to Fishguard, Pembroke Dock and Continental


Europe and which is owned by the Irish Railways, is also planning to create a new road entrance. There are also plans to extend the quayside used for conventional ships at the port to allow vessels of over 200 metres to moor fully alongside. Bouwhuis


said that Xellz’s


involvement in the scheme has helped reduce the cost of the port operation and without it, ports in Great Britain might have had to be used instead of Irish ones, he says. The site will allow components


and material to be brought in by sea and land. For the larger items, including 100m long blades, it will be possible to bring them in by sea and then out again by vessel to the off shore assembly site, helping to minimise the impact on local roads. All assembly and preparation work will be carried out at the site by specialist fi rms and


smaller, probably local


enterprises. The scheme could also be a springboard for Irish fi rms to secure similar work in other parts of the world, says Bouwhuis. Xellz’s off shore division, 24shore,


will manage the operation of the site.


The windfarms form part of the


Irish government’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions


in line with EU targets. There are longer term plans for more off shore windfarms off the west coast of Ireland and Xellz is at early stages of looking for suitable sites for land bases, says Bouwhuis. Xellz has several other off shore


projects around the world. It has acquired land in the Ijmuiden port area of Amsterdam for storage of subsea cables and it is also involved with Germany’s massive Energy Transition Project to create a smart grid of green energy schemes all over the country, running into tens of billions of Euros. The company is also busy in project management


in various oil and gas projects in the US and Nigeria. Bouwhuis said: “We are very


excited to have been able to secure this land which will give us the opportunity to start the development of the port area and to make it ready for the near future off shore windfarms in the Irish and Celtic Sea.”


Kerry launches Brittany’s new


Rosslare-Bilbao route


Brittany Ferries’ vessel Kerry embarked on the inaugural sailing from Rosslare to Bilbao on 28 February. The line said that the new route


had been welcomed by hauliers given the port’s proximity to Dublin and the east coast road network while those operating on the European mainland have welcomed the move to Bilbao, a port more attuned to freight traffi c with easier transport links into the Iberian Peninsula. The route replaces one from


Cork to Santander. Sailings will be twice-weekly


and will incorporate a weekly Roscoff /Rosslare rotation. Brittany Ferries group freight director, Simon Wagstaff


said: C M Y CM MY CY CMY K


“I am delighted to be here for the fi rst Brittany Ferries sailing from Rosslare. Since we opened operations linking Ireland and Spain in 2018 we have listened carefully to feedback from freight customers, on what is predominantly a route for


commercial traffi c. The clear message was that a move to Rosslare would help them and us deliver a more attractive option to the UK landbridge. We now operate from two ports in Ireland, reinforcing our commitment


to


the country, its people and its economy.” Glenn Carr, general manager,


Rosslare Europort added: “The decision to introduce this service not only shows the appeal of Rosslare Europort to shipping lines, freight and tourism customers, but also is the fi rst of what we intend to be a number of new business announcements, building


on our €25 million


investment plans in port facilities, infrastructure and technology. Rosslare Europort is Ireland’s closest port to mainland Europe, and is now the only port outside of Dublin with a Border Inspection Post facility, and will provide the quickest direct services for exports and imports to both Europe and the UK post-Brexit.”


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