Question 1

How old is Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

Where was the original Dublin Port located?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

How big is Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Who owns Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

What is Dublin Port Company?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

Name someone famous connected to Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

Is Dublin the largest Port in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

Who handles the Cargo in Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

Who is the Chief Executive of Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

Eamonn O'Reilly is the Dublin Port Chief Executive.

Question 10

Who is the Harbour Master of Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

Capt. Michael McKenna is the Dublin Port Harbour Master

Question 11

How many passengers come through Dublin Port each year?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

How many cruise liners arrive in Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

In 2019, there were 158 cruise liner visits.

Question 13

How many tonnes of exports were shipped by Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

How many ships arrive at Dublin Port each year?

Accepted Answer

In 2019, there were 7,898 ship arrivals.

Question 15

What is the total throughput of goods at Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

How many tourist vehicles come through Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

In 2019, there were 559,506 tourist vehicles.

Question 17

How many trade vehicles come through Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

There were 98,897 lorries in 2019

Question 18

Can pleasure craft enter Dublin Port?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

What is the VHF Channel for Dublin Port control?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 20

Is there a Dublin Bay webcam?

Accepted Answer

A Dublin Bay webcam showing the south of the Bay at Dun Laoghaire and a distant view of Dublin Port Shipping is here

Question 21

What is Dublin Port’s 'distributed museum'?

Accepted Answer

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.

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