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Dublin Port News
Dublin’s Diving Bell is illuminated in blue to raise awareness of world drowning prevention day
Dublin Port Company has come on board to support Water Safety Ireland for the first UN “World Drowning Prevention Day” on July 25th by illuminating Dublin’s Diving Bell in blue, one of several landmarks taking part in the global initiative…
Dublin Port harbourmaster Capt Michael McKenna
“Get your bearings — always think water safety”. That’s what Dublin Port harbourmaster Capt Michael McKenna is urging sailors, anglers, kayakers, windsurfers, kitesurfers, paddleboarders, swimmers and jetski users to remember on the lower reaches of the Liffey and out into Dublin…
Dublin Port chief executive Eamonn O’Reilly Afloat adds on board the giant ro-ro freight ferry Celine, dubbed the 'Brexit'-buster prior to launching direct services to mainland Europe in 2018.
Dublin Port figures show that trading patterns have shifted post-Brexit, with shipping routes now split evenly between Britain and continental Europe. Before Brexit, ports in Britain, Independent.ie writes, accounted for almost two-thirds of freight volumes in and out of Dublin…
Imports from April to June increased strongly by +20.3% to 5.4 million gross tonnes while exports grew by 3.7% to 3.5 million gross tonnes
Dublin Port Company has today reported trading figures for the second quarter of 2021 and for the first half of the year. Following a weak first quarter, (when volumes declined by -15.2% in the first three months after Brexit), there…
Volume decrease of 3.3% last year was ‘far less than feared’ Dublin Port chairman says.
Dublin Port Company last year recorded “a strong financial performance” with operating profits of €44.15 million despite challenges from Brexit and Covid-19. The company’s annual report shows the company’s revenues dipped by only 6.6 per cent from €92.72 million to…
Dublin Port’s new Shipping Lanes Map
Dublin Port Company (DPC) has today launched a new water safety awareness campaign supported by Water Safety Ireland (WSI) to help promote the safe, responsible use of Dublin Bay for leisure and recreation this summer. Both Dublin Port Company and…
Front cover of Dublin’s Deep Sea Port Map & Guide
Get your walking boots on and experience the rich culture Dublin’s city port has to offer with a new self-guided walking tour booklet. The fantastic guide to Dublin’s Deep Sea Port, from Dublin North East Inner City and The Five…
The Diving Bell on Sir John Rogerson's Quay in the colours of the rainbow for Dublin Pride Festival
For the first time, Dublin Port Company has illuminated The Diving Bell on Sir John Rogerson's Quay in the colours of the rainbow for the Dublin Pride Festival, in keeping with this year’s theme of Community. The Diving Bell is…
File image of Ballina train station
Mayo county councillors have called for a formal letter demanding that Dublin Port Company reverse its decision to end the regular rail freight service to Ballina, as The Western People reports. At a meeting of Ballina Municipal District this morning…
Dublin Port Co. is reminding members of the public, including people living & working in the port’s communities, that the closing date for submissions for the #Post2040Dialogue is 30 June
Today the Dublin Port Company (DPC) has reminded members of the public, including people living and working in the port’s communities, that the closing date for submissions to its Post 2040 Dialogue is approaching. With a closing date of 30th…
Dublin Port Company says it has no space because of demands produced by Brexit. According to DPC, port berths will not be available at all next year except for cruise ships under 200m which can use berth 18 which AFLOAT adds is along the North Quay Wall Extension (above) at Alexandra Basin. Berthed within the Basin is Magellan, however the ship which offered 'direct' cruises for the Irish market, was sold at auction and scrapped last year as UK owners, Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) went into administration arising from Covid's dramatic impact on the cruise industry sector.
Dublin Port's announcement that no berths will be available for large cruise ships next year has led to tourism groups hitting out at the decision. The port company says it has no space because of demands produced by Brexit. Tour…
Bindon Blood Stoney was the Executive Engineer at Dublin Port from 1868 until 1898, and was Assistant Engineer before that, a job he took on after a period as Assistant Astronomer at Birr near his family home in Offaly - arguably the most un-maritime of all Irish counties.
This year marks the 150th Anniversary of the inaugural use of Dublin Port's pioneering diving bell, and Thursday 27th May will see the first of three 40-minute online lectures (the other two are on 3rd June and 10th June) organised…
Stena Estrid will provide two daily return crossings each way between Holyhead and Dublin
With the expectation that travel restrictions between Ireland and Britain will be removed soon, ferry company Stena Line is bringing its new vessel Stena Estrid back to its key Holyhead – Dublin route. It will replace the Stena Horizon, which…
The Sean O’Casey Community Centre in East Wall has created a new garden for seniors to socialise safely outdoors with bingo, knitting, pool, snooker, draughts, live music and dancing five days a week. Welcoming local residents Margaret Tyrell and Helen McCabe back to the centre for the first time since Covid-19 were Willie Dwyer (Chairperson) with Edel Currie and Lar Joye from Dublin Port Company, which helped to sponsor the project, and Paul Graham from Nascadh Community Development Project
The Séan O’Casey Community Centre in Dublin’s East Wall officially opened its new garden for seniors to the public this week, featuring a new marquee and planting sponsored by Dublin Port Company. Under current Covid-19 restrictions, the redesigned garden will…
Aerial view of rowing teams from St Patrick's Rowing Club on the water
Dublin Port Company has hailed the return to the water of its neighbour rowing clubs St Patrick’s and Stella Maria with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions for under-18s partaking in sports. “It is great to see, even in these challenging…
File image of the Thomas Clarke Bridge (East-Link) across the River Liffey at Dublin Port
Due to necessary maintenance works, the Thomas Clarke Bridge at Dublin Port will need to remain in the upright position overnight from 11pm tonight, Thursday 6 May until 6am tomorrow, Friday 7 May. Dublin Port appeals for motorists to use…

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.