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Large-Scale Construction Work Starts at Rosslare Europort for Post-Brexit Checks

12th October 2023
Port Masterplan: New infrastructure project at Rosslare Europort will include 28 new buildings at Ireland’s best geographically positioned port to the UK and mainland Europe.
Port Masterplan: New infrastructure project at Rosslare Europort will include 28 new buildings at Ireland’s best geographically positioned port to the UK and mainland Europe. Credit: Rosslare Europort-Linkedin

New infrastructure works at Rosslare Europort have started so to enable handling post-Brexit checks on goods in bound to the country from those outside of the EU.

The works at the strategically located port in Co. Wexford will as RTE News reports, include border control development facilities to check food products. In addition such goods at the port, operated by Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann), will be checked for compliance with sanitary legislation and are designed to provide "protection for the EU single market," according to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

To cope with the surge in freight trade, the port project includes construction of 28 new buildings which will replace temporary infrastructure and processing facilities. These temporary structures in the port estate have been in place since the new Brexit regulations came into effect in 2021.

RTE has more on port recently named 'European Ferry Port of the Year 2023' at the Ferry Shipping Summit held in Malmo, Sweden.

For more than two years, Afloat has reported on Rosslare Europort's dramatic rise in new routes and increased sailings frequency to the mainland continent with 36 sailings per week compared to just 6 sailings in 2020.

The routes connect Zeebrugge in Belgium, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Cherbourg in France and Bilbao, Spain which involve five operators: Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Finnlines, Irish Ferries and Stena Line.

As for routes to the UK they are to Fishguard and Pembroke in south Wales which total to 58 sailings weekly.

In addition to a trade car operator, Neptune Lines on the route of Santander-Zeebrugge-Le Havre-Portbury (Bristol)-Rosslare from where the ro-ro ship returns to the port in northern Spain.

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.