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Major Investment for Rosslare Europort is Welcomed to Upgrade Port Facilities with Brexit Infrastructure

26th April 2023
Busy scene at Rosslare Europort where Iarnród Éireann, the owner and operator has welcomed the awarding of a tender to significantly upgrade facilitates at the Co. Wexford port.
Busy scene at Rosslare Europort where Iarnród Éireann, the owner and operator has welcomed the awarding of a tender to significantly upgrade facilitates at the Co. Wexford port. Credit: Rosslare Europort-twitter

Rosslare Europort which is owned and operated by Iarnród Éireann has welcomed the announcement of the awarding of a tender to significantly upgrade the facilitates at the Co. Wexford ferryport.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D.

The upgrade works are necessary to provide permanent Brexit infrastructure at Rosslare Europort to ensure compliance with EU Customs, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and official food controls legislation, thereby providing protection for the EU single market.

The proposed terminal seven development at Rosslare, includes the redevelopment of the existing site and the demolition of a number of existing buildings to facilitate the construction of a new border control post (BCP) consisting of a number of new buildings and associated external site infrastructure.

The terminal seven facility will facilitate the processing and exit routes from the passenger and freight ferries that use Rosslare Europort.

The OPW has developed the Rosslare project on behalf of the three agencies conducting checks and controls:

  • the Revenue Commissioners
  • the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
  • the Department of Health/HSE

Along with 58 weekly UK services, the port now also operates over 36 services between Rosslare and Bilbao (Spain), Cherbourg, Le Havre, Dunkirk (France) and Zeebrugge (Belgium). It is now the only port in Europe to have the 3 largest RoRo brands operating services collectively.

Overall freight in the past two years has grown cumulatively by 53% with a 398% increase in continental trade. There has also been a return to pre-covid passenger numbers and Port management are expecting one of its strongest ever summers for passenger and tourism business, reflected by the moves by the port’s shipping customers.

Speaking after the announcement, Glenn Carr, Director of Commercial Business Units, Iarnród Éireann said: “I am delighted that this tender has been awarded".

The proposed works will greatly enhance the customer experience at Rosslare Europort for our customers and will ensure that as the Port continues to grow we will have the necessary infrastructure in place to futureproof the Port for generations to come”

Published in Rosslare Europort
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 Rosslare Europort

2021 sees Rosslare Europort hitting a new record with a total of 36 shipping services a week operating from the port making it one of the premier Irish ports serving the European Continent. Rosslare Europort is a gateway to Europe for the freight and tourist industries. It is strategically located on the sunny south-east coast of Ireland.

Rosslare is within a 90-minute driving radius of major Irish cities; Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Rosslare Europort is a RoRo, RoPax, offshore and bulk port with three RoRo berths with a two-tier linkspan, we also have a dedicated offshore bulk berth.

Exports in Rosslare Europort comprise mainly of fresh products, food, pharmaceuticals, steel, timber and building supplies. While imports are largely in the form of consumer goods such as clothes, furniture, food, trade vehicles, and electronics.

The entire Europort is bar-swept to 7.2 meters, allowing unrestricted access to vessels with draughts up to 6.5 metres. Rosslare Europort offers a comprehensive service including mooring, stevedoring and passenger-car check-in for RoRo shipping lines. It also provides facilities for offshore, dry bulk and general cargo.

The port currently has twice-daily round services to the UK and direct services to the continent each day. Rosslare Europort has a fleet of Tugmasters service, fork-lift trucks, tractors and other handling equipment to cater for non-standard RoRo freight.