The Board of Dublin Port Company has announced the appointment of Barry O’Connell as its new Chief Executive Officer from 14th November 2022 following an open and competitive recruitment process.

Barry joins Dublin Port Company from the Coca-Cola System, where he has held multiple senior executive roles in bottling operations around the world since 1992. Barry has been a CEO since 2009 and has successfully led organisational transformation initiatives in Austria/Slovenia, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore/Malaysia. These initiatives have typically involved major capital investment projects in the areas of manufacturing and logistics, step-changes in sales and marketing strategy, innovative digitisation initiatives and significant investment in building organisational culture and capability. In leading such change initiatives, Barry has acquired significant experience in the areas of strategy, leadership, organisational change, and stakeholder management.

Barry replaces Eamonn O’Reilly, who stepped down from the role on 31st August after twelve highly successful years during which Dublin Port has undergone an historic transformation with the development and ongoing implementation of Masterplan 2040. Under Eamonn’s stewardship, the major infrastructure developments delivered to date have facilitated enormous growth in freight throughput at Dublin Port. The challenge in the coming years is the effective and timely delivery of the remaining elements of the approved Masterplan.

The Board is confident that Barry’s experience in senior international and operationally complex positions make him ideally placed for the role and task ahead. A native of Cork, Barry holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Limerick with further studies in Cranfield University and the IMD in Switzerland.

Announcing the appointment, Chairperson of Dublin Port Company, Mr. Jerry Grant, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Barry O’Connell as the next Chief Executive Officer of Dublin Port Company. We believe that he will build on the major achievements of the past ten years and continue to shape the evolution of this critical national infrastructure meeting Ireland’s international trade, climate and sustainability objectives in line with national port policy.

Barry joins the Company at an important and exciting time as we focus on delivering the final Masterplan project, the 3FM Project, through planning and achieving the ultimate capacity envisaged in Masterplan 2040. This will futureproof Dublin Port and national port capacity for the medium term, but also continue Dublin Port’s mission to further integrate the City and port communities. Port-city integration is a key strategic objective of Masterplan 2040 to be delivered through diverse industrial heritage, cultural, community, and educational programmes. The Plan also envisages digitisation of operations to further advance capacity optimisation and customer service priorities.

“We are confident that Barry and the executive team will build on the Company’s strong financial position and operational performance to deliver on these strategic objectives.”

In accepting the appointment, Barry O’Connell looks forward to taking up the role saying:

“It is a privilege to be joining the Dublin Port Company team at this crucial time and to be able to play my part in developing the Port to meet the future needs of Dublin and the wider Irish economy. I am very much looking forward to working with the Board and a highly competent and motivated team to continue to deliver value to customers, community and stakeholders.”

Dublin Port Company is currently recruiting for the roles of Project Manager and SharePoint Administrator & Document Controller.

Candidates for Project Manager in the Programme Management Office — which is delivering the port’s €1.6bn capital programme — should have a minimum of eight years’ experience of managing civil engineering projects, preferably from scheme inception, through project evaluation and appraisal, outline design/planning application, detailed design, procurement, to project delivery and final handover.

The capital programme is being delivered in a live port environment with multiple stakeholders and challenges, so experience in dealing with project complexity and uncertainty would be an advantage.

The SharePoint Administrator & Document Controller, meanwhile, will manage the day-to-day running of the SharePoint document management system and ensure compliance with agreed Dublin Port Company SharePoint guidelines and folder structures.

They will be responsible for controlling the numbering, filing, sorting and retrieval of electronically stored or hard-copy documentation produced by technical teams, projects or departments in a timely, accurate and efficient manner.

Further details of both roles are available on the Dublin Port website. The closing date for applications is Friday 25 February.

Friday 14 January is the last day to apply to join the Marine Operatives pool with the Dublin Port Company.

The port’s multi-skilled and multifunctional Marine Operatives, under the supervision of a team leader, operate with full flexibility and carry out marine-related tasks.

Marine Operatives will be expected to carry out duties in all sections of the port company’s Marine Function for which they are qualified and/or trained.

Appropriate training will be provided to facilitate staff to achieve qualifications as required. The panel will be active for a period of two years maximum.

Reporting to the Harbour Master and/or their designate (Marine Supervisor), the successful candidates will take on a role that includes all aspects of Marine Operative work.

They are required to have relevant work boat and passenger experience and associated qualifications. Officer of the Watch (OOW) certification is preferable but not essential.

The successful candidates must have a valid driving licence, and demonstrate a proven track record with excellent work ethics, be enthusiastic and possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and have the ability to prepare clear and concise reports.

Candidates should carefully consider their proximity to Dublin Port and whether they will be in a position to work in accordance with the shift patterns that will apply to them.

Please see the Dublin Port website to view the full profile of this role. Applications can be made via LinkedIn Easy Apply or alternatively send full personal, career and current remuneration details to [email protected]

Plans are in train for as many as 95 cruise liner calls to Dublin Bay in 2022, according to the Minister of State for international transport.

Hildegarde Naughton was responding to a Dáil question from Galway independent TD Noel Grealish regarding the continued suitability of Dublin Port for tourism traffic.

According to the minister, Dublin Port Company has taken bookings for 28 cruise ships in Dublin Port next year, with a further 67 anchoring in Dublin Bay and tendering into Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

“However, the actual cruise calls to be facilitated will depend on a decision on the resumption of cruise activity,” she said, underlining that such would be guided by any prevailing COVID-related restrictions.

The minister also noted that since the beginning of this year, Dublin Port has seen a “significant increase” in shipping services bypassing the UK land bridge post-Brexit.

“In Dublin Port, these direct services are using the cargo berths that were in the past used by cruise. It is clear that once cruise traffic recommences, Dublin Port will have reduced capacity for cruise ship visits in the coming seasons.

“However, there is spare capacity in other ports particularly with Cobh having a dedicated cruise berth in Ireland. This ideally places them as alternative options for the cruise industry and creates opportunities for tourism activities on a regional basis,” she added.

Dublin Port Company has established a scholarship programme to provide opportunities for individuals living in the Port area of Dublin to fulfil their potential through education.

The programme is targeted at school leavers, mature student and others with a strong and focused ability and potential who would otherwise experience significant obstacles to progressing in third-level education.

Full information on the programme, including selection criteria and application forms, is available from the Dublin Port website or by writing to Dublin Port Company Head Office: Port Centre, Alexandra Road, Dublin 1, D01 H4C6.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 27 August.

Dublin Port Company is currently recruiting for a Facilities Manager.

Reporting to the Head of Property, the Facilities Manager will be a key member of the Property team which is responsible for over €13m of income in an estate spanning over 309 hectares.

The role will be varied covering general property matters including facilities and property management, managing property transactions, project management and inspection of various Dublin Port assets.

Dublin Port Company is looking an enthusiastic and experienced Facilities professional to work within a busy property team.

Highly motivated, the Facilities Manager will manage relationships with tenants and stakeholders in line with Dublin Port Company values and have either a property and/or facilities background, either client side or agency side, as well as professional membership of one of the following (or equivalent): Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS), Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Royal Institute of Architects Ireland (RIAI).

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 20 April. Full details of the role and how to apply can be found on LinkedIn HERE.

Dublin Port Company is recruiting for the role of Deputy Harbour Master.

This is a senior marine management role that will include significant day-to-day operational management, analysis, communications, and decision-making.

Planning, engagement, and collaboration with stakeholders are key to achieving safe and efficient port operations, and the objectives of the Masterplan.

The role involves responsibilities during office hours and an on-call capacity in collaboration with the wider Harbour Master team.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Responsibility for the day-to-day management of the harbour team.
• Building effective relationships with stakeholders including staff.
• Acting as the first point of contact for day to day marine operations.
• Deputising for the Harbour Master to regulate and be responsible for the movement and safety of all commercial shipping and leisure craft within the DPC area of jurisdiction through the use of the Vessel Traffic System (VTS) and Port Management Information System.
• Managing all movements of commercial shipping and leisure craft through the issuance of Bye-Laws and DPC Notice-to-Mariners.
• Managing, administering and supervising the allocation of berths including the berthing and un-berthing of ships.
• In collaboration with the Harbour Master, managing and administering the pilotage, towage and pilot launch service.
  Ensure compliance of the Oil Jetty Operations with the Dangerous Substances Act 1979.
• Maintaining close liaison with other local and regulatory authorities.
• Ensuring continuing compliance by all Port Facilities with the requirements of the ISPS Code as a Port Facilities Security Officer (PFSO).
• Ensuring that all measures are in place to minimise oil pollution and that the regulatory Oil & HNS Spill Contingency Plans are in place and updated where necessary.
• Carrying out any such duties as required for the investigation and supervision and clearance of oil pollution.
• Responsibility for the preparation, implementation and supervision of the Marine based sections of the DPC Emergency Management Plan.
• Coaching and mentoring teams to ensure a cohesive approach across the marine operations including performance, development, reward, diversity, wellbeing.
• Leading pre-shift briefings, toolbox talks and staff meetings to ensure clear communication and operational planning.
• Assisting with local informal, and formal, industrial relations processes and engagements with a view to solving disputes as near to the point of origin as possible.
• Working closely with the Harbour Master to ensure the Harbour Function is safe, efficient and fit for purpose in the context of the Masterplan.
• Maintaining accurate and appropriate records in a timely manner.

A full job description of this role is available to download below.

Interested applicants are asked to submit an up-to-date CV and covering email before Friday 11 December to [email protected] or to make their application through LinkedIn.

Dublin Port has stepped in to save the extensive photographic images collection of the Dublin Dock Workers' Preservation Society, writes Tom MacSweeney.

Afloat.ie reported the situation last week when the internet service holding the images, which are made available for public download, informed the society that their subscription would not be extended beyond February and the images would be deleted.

The society had no alternative storage for the collection of almost 7,000 images.

However, Declan Byrne of the society now says “the initial panic is over” as following a meeting at the weekend, Dublin Port Company had offered to help by downloading and saving the image bank.

"This then gives us the time to work on getting a new site/platform that can be accessed by the public,” says Byrne. “Our main aim is that people can download the photos at high resolution without any cost to them.

“Many thanks for Afloat’s support — it is the reason that we have received dozens of offers for help.”

Dublin Port’s chief executive has received an apology over press releases from a campaign against the end of cruise liner arrivals to the port that he claimed were defamatory, as The Irish Times reports.

Lorcan O’Connor, a director of Carroll’s Irish Gifts and founder of the All Ireland Cruise Ship Action Group, and PR firm Paul Allen & Associates published the three press releases in May and June of this year.

Both parties have acknowledged they contained “some limited references” to Dublin Port chief Eamonn O’Reilly as well as “robust expressions of opinion which were unwarranted and/or were stated without providing a sufficient factual basis”.

Two of the press releases made reference to questions over expenditure on company credit cards and hospitality by Dublin Port Company executives, over which the State-owned company faced an Oireachtas committee last month.

The All Ireland Cruise Ship Action Group itself gave evidence before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport in May on the impact they say will be felt by the tourism industry on the port’s recent decision to reduce cruise liner visits over the next number of years.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

#Biodiversity - The Irish Wildlife Trust and Dublin Port Company today (Thursday 25 October) launched the Together for Biodiversity Awards with the Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan.

The awards are being run by the Irish Wildlife Trust, as part of the National Biodiversity Conference next February, and supported by Dublin Port Company.

This is the first Irish awards programme of its kind dedicated solely to recognising and funding biodiversity champions in our society.

The Irish Wildlife Trust is now calling on community groups, schools, farmers and individuals to enter the Together for Biodiversity Awards, have their work recognised and be in with the chance to win funding for future biodiversity projects.

The Together for Biodiversity Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work carried out by communities across Ireland to protect our natural environment.

Individuals and communities all over Ireland are doing their bit to help save biodiversity through local projects.

Have you or your community been involved in a project to help protect local wildlife or habitats this year? Perhaps you planted a school wildlife garden, made your village more pollinator0friendly or helped protect a local wetland.

If so, all you have to do to enter is tell all about the work you carried out and how it helped your local biodiversity.

There are categories for community groups, farmers, schools and individual biodiversity champions. Finalists from each category will be invited to the National Biodiversity Conference to highlight their work. Winners will be announced at the conference with a prize of €2,000 for each category winner.

Minister Madigan said: “The Together for Biodiversity Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the wealth of work being done at local level to protect wildlife and create and restore habitats across Ireland.”

Kieran Flood, co-ordinator with the Irish Wildlife Trust, added: “It is only with the help of local biodiversity champions that will we have a chance of halting biodiversity loss in Ireland, so we are delighted to be celebrating their efforts through the Together for Biodiversity Awards.”

Eamonn O’Reilly of the Dublin Port Company said it is delighted to sponsor the Together for Biodiversity Awards.

“The port is not only a hive of activity for ships, containers and cranes, but also home to an array of birds, marine life, flora and fauna that form part of the Dublin Bay biosphere.

“We are committed to working with a range of organisations and conservationists to better understand and protect our natural environment, and we know that there are countless groups and individuals with the same ambition.

“The awards will shine a light on those doing brilliant work to protect biodiversity right around the country and help support future projects too,” O’Reilly said.

The Together for Biodiversity Awards are part of the National Biodiversity Conference, which takes place at Dublin Castle on 20-21 February 2019 and is being organised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Irish Forum on Natural Capital.

For more details on how to enter the awards visit iwt.ie/biodiversity-awards