Shannon Foynes Port Company Winner of Marine Industry Award

6th July 2017

Declan McDonald, Partner, PwC presents the Ports & Harbours Operator of the Year award to Pat Keating, CEO, Shannon Foynes Port Company. Credit: Marine Industry Awards /Facebook

#ShannonEstuary - Shannon Foynes Port Company was announced as the winner of Ports & Harbours Operator of the Year at the Marine Industry Awards 2017.

In the third annual hosting of the event (click here), SFPC – which oversees commercial navigation on the Shannon Estuary and is Ireland’s largest bulk port company - took the top award for ports for the first time. The win, which was announced at the awards in Galway, is a further endorsement of the success of the company, which has achieved remarkable growth year on year since 2011.

The award winners are selected by an independent panel of recognised and expert judges, representing Ireland's marine sector.

Speaking after receiving the award, SFPC CEO Pat Keating said it was validation of the collective efforts of the team. “We’re delighted as this is an endorsement of the efforts being made by the company over recent years. We have really turned the business around since the downturn and today SFPC is one of the key contributors to the regional economy.

“Last year we had growth of 11.4% in year on year tonnages at our general cargo terminals, bringing us close to peak tonnages of the boom and delivering double digit growth for the second successive year. This award very much recognises those gains.

“It also recognises the ambition of the company, backed up by a capital expenditure programme by us and our customers that has seen €40m spent at Foynes alone over the past three years.”

SFPC facilitates trade valued at €7.6bn per annum, with an economic impact arising from this of €1.9bn – equivalent to 1% of Ireland’s entire GDP – and supports 3,372 jobs in the regional economy.

The company’s ambitious plan, Vision 2041, is focussed on helping to transform the estuary into an international economic hub by taking advantage of what are among the deepest and sheltered harbours in Europe & the world.

Published in Shannon Estuary

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Marine Industry Awards

About The Author

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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Shannon Foynes Port Information

Shannon Foynes Port (SFPC) are investing in an unprecedented expansion at its general cargo terminal, Foynes, adding over two-thirds the size of its existing area. In the latest phase of a €64 million investment programme, SFPC is investing over €20 million in enabling works alone to convert 83 acres on the east side of the existing port into a landbank for marine-related industry, port-centric logistics and associated infrastructure. The project, which will be developed on a phased basis over the next five years, will require the biggest infrastructure works programme ever undertaken at the port, with the entire 83 acre landbank having to be raised by 4.4 metres. The programme will also require the provision of new internal roads and multiple bridge access as well as roundabout access.