Plans to redevelop and enhance Belfast Harbour’s cruise and offshore renewable energy facilities have been launched by the port.
The harbour on Belfast Lough has described a vision of making the city a hub for future offshore wind development, not just for the region but the entire island of Ireland. This will involve significant investment in new infrastructure.
The current offshore wind terminal on the south side of the port estate, is the only facility of its type on the island for the transport and assembly of offshore wind turbines. In the period between 2013 and 2018, the facility had delivered 66% of the UK’s offshore wind capacity.
In addition, the facility, in recent years, has been used as a berth for the increasing number of larger cruise ships visiting Belfast among them Regal Princess. In 2023, the harbour welcomed almost 150 cruise calls by more than 30 cruise operators.
The Herald Scotland has more on the story.
Also in the same year, Afloat highlights, Belfast was named the ‘Best UK & Ireland Port of Call’ by Tripadvisor’s Cruise Critic brand. More than 300,000 visitors arrive by cruise ship every year, with cruise tourism generating an estimated £25m annually to the NI economy.
Today is berthed the cruise ship Marina, which arrived from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of west Scotland.
