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Dublin Port Company Commits to Sustainable Port City Development with Signing of Agenda 2030 by AIVP

11th October 2023
At the official signing of the Agenda 2030 by AIVP (International Association of Ports and Cities) which took place at Dublin Port’s Substation today was José Sanchez, Director of the Agenda 2030 by AIVP along DPC Chief Executive Barry O’Connell.
At the official signing of the Agenda 2030 by AIVP (International Association of Ports and Cities) which took place at Dublin Port’s Substation today was José Sanchez, Director of the Agenda 2030 by AIVP along DPC Chief Executive Barry O’Connell. Credit: Dublin Port Company

Dublin Port Company (DPC)has announced that it has officially signed the Agenda 2030 by AIVP (International Association of Ports and Cities).

DPC Chief Executive Barry O’Connell was joined at Dublin Port’s Substation today by José Sanchez, Director of the Agenda 2030 by AIVP, to mark the occasion. This significant milestone highlights DPC’s dedication to integrating the port and the city through preservation of port heritage and identity, promotion of sustainable energy alternatives and protection of Dublin Bay’s biosphere.

AIVP’s 2030 Agenda is the world’s first initiative to adapt the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the specific context of port-city relations. The document seeks to create a deeper connection between ports and cities and was produced jointly between AIVP members, which include local, regional and national authorities, private enterprises, ports, universities and architectural firms, at the Quebec Conference in 2018.

The Agenda 2030 by AIVP is a comprehensive framework that seeks to develop sustainable port-city integration strategies across ten key goals. Each one of AIVP’s ten goals connect to the United Nations 2030 Agenda - which Ireland is signatory of - and to the holistic approach needed to reconnect ports with their respective cities along sustainable lines. The Agenda sets down 10 goals for sustainable port city development.

The ten key goals are:

1. Climate change adaptation
2. Energy transition and circular economy
3. Sustainable mobility
4. Renewed governance
5. Investing in the human capital
6. Port culture and identity
7. Quality food for all
8. Port City Interface
9. Health and life quality
10. Protecting biodiversity

By signing the Agenda, DPC joins an international community of port cities in its support for each of these goals. The Agenda was signed in DPC’s newly refurbished Substation, a symbol of Port culture and identity which allows the public to view the original 18th-century sea wall which gives the East Wall its name. DPC is engaged in several initiatives to preserve Port culture and integrate the Port and the city. The Liffey-Tolka Project will integrate the Port with the city through 6.3 kilometres of pedestrian paths and cycleways, allowing parts of the Port estate to be accessible to the public like never before.

DPC has also expressed its commitment to protecting the biodiversity of Dublin Bay, which is one of only two UNESCO biosphere reserves on the island of Ireland. It continues to support projects from Birdwatch Ireland and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group to monitor the variety of species within the biosphere.

Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said: "We are proud to sign the AIVP Agenda 2030 and join the global effort to create sustainable port cities. Dublin Port Company is committed to pushing forward on the ten key goals of the agenda and is currently making strides in the realms of port culture and port-city integration with our newly refurbished Substation venue and comprehensive Liffey-Tolka project, which lets the public in to 6.3 kilometres of pedestrian and cycle ways around the Port.”

“Any Port should be a good neighbour to its city, and it is heartening to see this agreement mark an international consensus in this regard."

José Sanchez, Director of Agenda 2030 by AIVP, said: "Dublin Port Company's leadership in embracing sustainable practices sets a remarkable example for port cities worldwide. By signing the AIVP’s Agenda 2030, they reaffirm their dedication to making port cities more resilient, vibrant and environmentally responsible.

“Dublin Port Company's progressive steps towards sustainable port-city relations are a testament to their dedication to the long-term well-being of their community and the planet. Their unwavering commitment to the Agenda 2030 by AIVP is sure to inspire positive change in the global port city community.”

Published in Dublin Port
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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About Dublin Port 

Dublin Port is Ireland’s largest and busiest port with approximately 17,000 vessel movements per year. As well as being the country’s largest port, Dublin Port has the highest rate of growth and, in the seven years to 2019, total cargo volumes grew by 36.1%.

The vision of Dublin Port Company is to have the required capacity to service the needs of its customers and the wider economy safely, efficiently and sustainably. Dublin Port will integrate with the City by enhancing the natural and built environments. The Port is being developed in line with Masterplan 2040.

Dublin Port Company is currently investing about €277 million on its Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR), which is due to be complete by 2021. The redevelopment will improve the port's capacity for large ships by deepening and lengthening 3km of its 7km of berths. The ABR is part of a €1bn capital programme up to 2028, which will also include initial work on the Dublin Port’s MP2 Project - a major capital development project proposal for works within the existing port lands in the northeastern part of the port.

Dublin Port has also recently secured planning approval for the development of the next phase of its inland port near Dublin Airport. The latest stage of the inland port will include a site with the capacity to store more than 2,000 shipping containers and infrastructures such as an ESB substation, an office building and gantry crane.

Dublin Port Company recently submitted a planning application for a €320 million project that aims to provide significant additional capacity at the facility within the port in order to cope with increases in trade up to 2040. The scheme will see a new roll-on/roll-off jetty built to handle ferries of up to 240 metres in length, as well as the redevelopment of an oil berth into a deep-water container berth.

Dublin Port FAQ

Dublin was little more than a monastic settlement until the Norse invasion in the 8th and 9th centuries when they selected the Liffey Estuary as their point of entry to the country as it provided relatively easy access to the central plains of Ireland. Trading with England and Europe followed which required port facilities, so the development of Dublin Port is inextricably linked to the development of Dublin City, so it is fair to say the origins of the Port go back over one thousand years. As a result, the modern organisation Dublin Port has a long and remarkable history, dating back over 300 years from 1707.

The original Port of Dublin was situated upriver, a few miles from its current location near the modern Civic Offices at Wood Quay and close to Christchurch Cathedral. The Port remained close to that area until the new Custom House opened in the 1790s. In medieval times Dublin shipped cattle hides to Britain and the continent, and the returning ships carried wine, pottery and other goods.

510 acres. The modern Dublin Port is located either side of the River Liffey, out to its mouth. On the north side of the river, the central part (205 hectares or 510 acres) of the Port lies at the end of East Wall and North Wall, from Alexandra Quay.

Dublin Port Company is a State-owned commercial company responsible for operating and developing Dublin Port.

Dublin Port Company is a self-financing, and profitable private limited company wholly-owned by the State, whose business is to manage Dublin Port, Ireland's premier Port. Established as a corporate entity in 1997, Dublin Port Company is responsible for the management, control, operation and development of the Port.

Captain William Bligh (of Mutiny of the Bounty fame) was a visitor to Dublin in 1800, and his visit to the capital had a lasting effect on the Port. Bligh's study of the currents in Dublin Bay provided the basis for the construction of the North Wall. This undertaking led to the growth of Bull Island to its present size.

Yes. Dublin Port is the largest freight and passenger port in Ireland. It handles almost 50% of all trade in the Republic of Ireland.

All cargo handling activities being carried out by private sector companies operating in intensely competitive markets within the Port. Dublin Port Company provides world-class facilities, services, accommodation and lands in the harbour for ships, goods and passengers.

Eamonn O'Reilly is the Dublin Port Chief Executive.

Capt. Michael McKenna is the Dublin Port Harbour Master

In 2019, 1,949,229 people came through the Port.

In 2019, there were 158 cruise liner visits.

In 2019, 9.4 million gross tonnes of exports were handled by Dublin Port.

In 2019, there were 7,898 ship arrivals.

In 2019, there was a gross tonnage of 38.1 million.

In 2019, there were 559,506 tourist vehicles.

There were 98,897 lorries in 2019

Boats can navigate the River Liffey into Dublin by using the navigational guidelines. Find the guidelines on this page here.

VHF channel 12. Commercial vessels using Dublin Port or Dun Laoghaire Port typically have a qualified pilot or certified master with proven local knowledge on board. They "listen out" on VHF channel 12 when in Dublin Port's jurisdiction.

A Dublin Bay webcam showing the south of the Bay at Dun Laoghaire and a distant view of Dublin Port Shipping is here
Dublin Port is creating a distributed museum on its lands in Dublin City.
 A Liffey Tolka Project cycle and pedestrian way is the key to link the elements of this distributed museum together.  The distributed museum starts at the Diving Bell and, over the course of 6.3km, will give Dubliners a real sense of the City, the Port and the Bay.  For visitors, it will be a unique eye-opening stroll and vista through and alongside one of Europe’s busiest ports:  Diving Bell along Sir John Rogerson’s Quay over the Samuel Beckett Bridge, past the Scherzer Bridge and down the North Wall Quay campshire to Berth 18 - 1.2 km.   Liffey Tolka Project - Tree-lined pedestrian and cycle route between the River Liffey and the Tolka Estuary - 1.4 km with a 300-metre spur along Alexandra Road to The Pumphouse (to be completed by Q1 2021) and another 200 metres to The Flour Mill.   Tolka Estuary Greenway - Construction of Phase 1 (1.9 km) starts in December 2020 and will be completed by Spring 2022.  Phase 2 (1.3 km) will be delivered within the following five years.  The Pumphouse is a heritage zone being created as part of the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project.  The first phase of 1.6 acres will be completed in early 2021 and will include historical port equipment and buildings and a large open space for exhibitions and performances.  It will be expanded in a subsequent phase to incorporate the Victorian Graving Dock No. 1 which will be excavated and revealed. 
 The largest component of the distributed museum will be The Flour Mill.  This involves the redevelopment of the former Odlums Flour Mill on Alexandra Road based on a masterplan completed by Grafton Architects to provide a mix of port operational uses, a National Maritime Archive, two 300 seat performance venues, working and studio spaces for artists and exhibition spaces.   The Flour Mill will be developed in stages over the remaining twenty years of Masterplan 2040 alongside major port infrastructure projects.

Source: Dublin Port Company ©Afloat 2020.