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Dublin Port News
Port Places - The ‘Creative Connections’ exhibition is to be held in EPIC’s Liffey Corner gallery space
The histories, life and culture of five port towns in Ireland and Wales as Afloat previously reported, will feature in a film and exhibition in Dublin during Heritage Week 2022. These events have been produced by Aberystwyth University and the…
Fifty young Irish trainees have taken part in an intensive week-long voyage as crew members of three different sailing vessels. They received their certificates of completion of the Sail Training Ireland Asgard Armada Voyage 2022 from Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers at a special awards ceremony in Dublin’s Docklands. The participants were nominated to take part by various youth organisations throughout the country
Fifty exceptional young Irish trainees, who took part in an intensive week-long voyage as crew members of three different sailing vessels, today received their certificates of completion from Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers at a special awards ceremony…
The Argentinian tall ship “Libertad” pictured sailing into Dublin Port today
Dublin Port and the Embassy of Argentina in Dublin have welcomed one of the world’s largest Tall Ships, the 340-foot-long Libertad, on a two-day visit to Dublin. She is berthed at Berth 18, next to the 3Arena, and will be…
New Road Safety Campaign in Dublin Port - the purpose of the initiative is to support and foster an enhanced safety culture among port workers
Dublin Port Company has today, in co-operation with all seven unitised terminal operators at Dublin Port, launched a new port-wide safety initiative called Dublin SafePort. The seven participating terminal operators are Dublin Ferryport Terminals, Doyle Shipping Group, Irish Ferries, P&O…
Welcoming the world and its seaborne trade -historic Dublin Port is moving into a new era as its trade levels return towards re-pandemic and
pre-Brexit levels
During its 1,200 and more years of active trading, the Port of Dublin has successfully emerged from many adversities to maintain its role as Ireland's premier trading hub. Despite all the international frustrations to smooth trade and the pandemic problems…
Originally a freight ferry, the Aegean Odyssey (seen in Dublin Port in July, 2017) operates 'educational' experience programme voyages which sees the ship back in the Port. The veteran vessel at almost 50 years old, is to remain in the capital for the next five days with a departure scheduled on Wednesday.
A former Israeli ro-ro freight ferry now operating as an 'educational' adults-only cruiseship, had in the early hours of this morning called to Dublin Port and notably will remain in the capital for the next five days, writes Jehan Ashmore.…
Dublin Port Receives Sixth EcoPorts Environmental Management Standard (PERS) Certificate
Dublin Port has been congratulated by the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), for being certified through the EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS). The Port of Dublin joined the EcoPorts’ network in 2008 and is PERS-certified for the sixth time. Isabelle Ryckbost,…
Dublin Inland Port
Brexit has been a significant driver of change for Dublin Port as an increase in direct trade with the continent has accelerated the need for offsite capacity. Dublin Port Company’s head of property Cormac Kennedy spoke to Independent.ie about this…
The ‘Pride at the Port‘ mural at the Great South Wall
Dublin Port Company has created a splash of colour for the Dublin Pride Festival this week with a new mural installation at the Great South Wall, which attracts over 500 walkers daily. The Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride Festival 2022 runs until…
The Lord Mayor of Dublin and Honorary Admiral of Dublin Port, Alison Gilliland, performs the ‘Casting of the Spear’ in Dublin Bay for the first time since before the pandemic in a tradition dating back to 1488 to mark the city’s boundaries eastwards as Dublin Port Chief Executive Eamonn O’Reilly looks on
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland, took to the waters of Dublin Bay to take part in the annual ‘Casting of the Spear’ ceremony, the first time the tradition has been observed since before the pandemic. The ‘Casting of…
Dublin inland port
Dublin Port Company (DPC) has announced the development of a second empty container depot as part of the 22-hectare first stage development of Dublin Inland Port. Dublin Inland Port is located 14 kilometres from Dublin Port off the M2, with…
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D today presented scholarship certificates to the first students to complete the inaugural Irish Nautical Trust Marine Skills & Technology scholarship programme, supported by Google.org at the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club Ringsend, Dublin. Photo Shows the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe with graduates, Frank Hopkins, Leopardstown (on left) and Philip Murphy from Ringsend
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, T.D. was at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club Marina, Ringsend on the River Liffey today, to present scholarship certificates to the first cohort of students completing the inaugural Irish Nautical Trust Marine Skills &…
A Dublin Docklands workshop at the Liffey Trust Studios.
At the Liffey Trust Studios, a handful of people file into the multi-purpose community space behind the Point Village. They climb two flights of stairs and enter a waiting area where they are greeted by the voice of an aerobics…
Comedians Darren Conway and Joe McGucken Come Aboard to Launch Dublin Port Company’s Water Safety Campaign Ahead of a Busy Summer. A recent survey showed that half of the Irish public admit to not being attuned to water safety
Dublin Port Company (DPC) has today launched a new water safety awareness campaign, bringing comedy stars Darren Conway and Joe McGucken aboard to help spread the important message. The campaign is being launched ahead of the bank holiday to help…
200-year-old records concerning Dublin Port rescued from the Four Courts fire of 1922 are to be restored by the conservation team at the National Archives of Ireland with funding support from Dublin Port Company. Viewing the records for the first time in 100 years were National Archives Director Orlaith McBride, Beyond 2022 Project Conservator Jessica Baldwin and Dublin Port Company Chief Executive Eamonn O’Reilly.
Dublin Port Company is supporting the State’s effort to recover from the Four Courts fire of 1922 by funding the conservation of 200-year-old records concerning Dublin Port. On 30 June 1922, the Public Record Office of Ireland at the Four…
Dublin Port
Dublin Port’s volumes have recovered strongly in the first quarter of 2022 with growth of 13.7% to 8.9 million gross tonnes compared to same period in 2021. Reporting its trading figures for Q1 today (Wednesday 20 April), Dublin Port company…

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.