Dublin Port Company (DPC) is submitting a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for a 15-year permission for its 3FM Project, the third and final project from Dublin Port’s Masterplan 2040 at an estimated cost of €1.1 billion (2024 prices).

The 3FM Project will be developed on existing brownfield lands in the port, focusing primarily on the Poolbeg Peninsula, where one-fifth of Dublin Port’s estate is located. The project will deliver close to 20% of port capacity required by 2040 by providing essential infrastructure and capacity for unitised cargo as demand for freight services from Continental Europe grows.

CGI Water Level View of Proposed Maritime Village, Harbour Operations and fuel berth pontoons, looking south 

The 3FM Project includes the construction of a new bridge across the River Liffey as part of the Southern Port Access Route (SPAR), removing heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), port and commercial traffic from existing public roads leading to and from the Tom Clarke Bridge, while giving pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users 7.0 km of cycle and pedestrian routes for active travel across the Poolbeg Peninsula and River Liffey. In addition, a new Maritime Village, public park and enhanced public and community amenity will be provided, all designed to improve and protect the port’s local community, natural environment and maritime heritage.

The counterweight gives a distinct identity to the bridge and clearly denotes the opening span

The project, put forward by self-financing commercial semi-state Dublin Port Company, is the largest port infrastructure project in the company’s 317-year history. It completes the three core strategic infrastructure projects brought forward for development from Dublin Port’s Masterplan, with the ABR Project near completion and the MP2 Project under construction.

CGI View along the SPAR active travel route, looking east

Plans On Display to Public

DPC’s final design proposal reflects extensive public consultation and collaboration with stakeholders, including the port’s local community, customers, public representatives, State agencies, Government departments and a wide range of public bodies to balance a range of commercial, community, heritage and sustainability considerations.

3FM Project - General arrangement

Public information sessions 

Public information sessions will take place in August with details of the proposed development plans on view, and with Dublin Port’s project team on hand to discuss these in person.

Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said:

“Today we are putting forward the 3FM Project to develop critical national port infrastructure on existing port lands to support growth in the Irish economy.

“The 3FM Project is a powerful example of a balanced approach to sustainable planning for major infrastructure that delivers for international trade, the local community, and the port’s natural environment.

“We have embraced the consultation process and taken on board the views of many stakeholders to create a plan that delivers on Dublin Port’s core mandate to facilitate international trade. It does this by maximising our current footprint to create state-of-the-art capacity for import and export trade which is the mainstay of our economy, and which is fundamental to future economic growth.

CGI Aerial View of the Proposed 3FM Development, Looking Southeast

“Dublin Port is already one of Europe’s most efficient ports. For business, the 3FM Project means essential port infrastructure that supports Ireland’s export ambitions into the future. For consumers, this infrastructure will support competitive shipping routes for the goods and materials we use in everyday life, from building and health supplies to furniture and grocery.

“Our project design not only creates a more efficient port but does so in a way that enhances our community, protects our environment and respects our heritage. For the local community and future residents, it creates new and enhanced public amenities, including a world class Maritime Village, 7km of pedestrian and cycle routes, a new public park and wildflower meadow, as well as a floodlit playing pitch for local clubs.

"It is the largest port infrastructure project in the company’s 317-year history"

“In relation to the Great South Wall, a new Public Access Feasibility Study and up to €1 million in funding to implement its recommendations, will look at the possibilities for public interpretation, access, facilities and conservation.

“At the same time, the project uses construction techniques for a new container terminal facility that will enhance our environment and the biosphere, utilising open-piled structures to protect marine biodiversity and incorporating infrastructure to support the low-carbon operation of the terminal. Relocating the container freight stacking operation further away from residential areas also ensures lesser noise and visual impact.

“We are very grateful to the many contributors for their input into this plan, which will transform our lands on the Poolbeg Peninsula for the port, the city, and its residents.”

About the 3FM Project in Detail

The 3FM Project involves an application for a 15-year permission for phased development works within existing port lands, focused primarily on the southern port estate on the Poolbeg Peninsula.

The 3FM Project has six key elements:

1. Construction of a new public road and bridge called the Southern Port Access Route (SPAR) to link the north and south port areas including a new opening bridge over the River Liffey. This will facilitate HGVs, pedestrians, cyclists, blue light services and public transport users moving to and from the South Port and Poolbeg Peninsula. The SPAR will also allow the 3FM Project to be rail enabled through rapid road shunting of freight from the South Port, across the Liffey, to rail intermodal facilities in the North Port vicinity.

2. Construction of a new Lift-on Lift-off (Lo-Lo) Terminal with an annual throughput capacity of 550,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) or 5.34m tonnes. The LoLo terminal will be located north of the ESB’s Generating Station, with 650m of deep water berthage plus associated cargo handling areas (Dublin Port Masterplan Area N) to accommodate Lo-Lo vessels of up to 240m. It will operate in conjunction with a transit container storage yard located on waterside land currently used for bulk cargo handling (Dublin Port Masterplan Area L).

3. Replacement of the existing Lo-Lo container terminal, currently operated by Marine Terminals Limited (MTL), with a new Roll-On Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) Terminal with an annual throughput capacity of 360,000 Ro-Ro units or 8.69m tonnes. The Ro-Ro terminal will be located at existing Berths 42-45 including provision of two berths, each with a single tier Ro-Ro ramp, plus associated cargo handling facilities (Dublin Port Masterplan Area K).

The terminal will operate in conjunction with a transit Ro-Ro trailer yard located on Port owned land on the southern side of the Poolbeg Peninsula (Dublin Port Masterplan Area O). This combined terminal will accommodate Ro-Ro vessels of up to 240m length, primarily from Continental Europe.

There will be no stacking of containers or trailers, nor use of gantry cranes in Area O, where ground level, single height freight trailers will be completely hidden from Sandymount Strand.

4. Provision of a 325m diameter ship turning circle in the river channel north of Pigeon House Harbour, dredged to a depth of -10.0m CD. The ship turning circle will enable safe navigation and efficient manoeuvring of vessels up to 240m in length.

5. Construction of a Maritime Village at Pigeon House Road and Berth 41. This village will accommodate local rowing, sailing, and boat clubs and will provide a significantly enhanced public realm and facilities on the waterside.

The 3FM Project will require the demolition of the existing boating facilities to make way for the proposed SPAR. The existing facilities will be replaced by the construction of the Maritime Village which will have a significantly larger footprint including the hinterland to Berth 41 (currently part of the existing Lo-Lo Container Terminal operated by MTL).

6. Construction of Community Gain elements, which collectively represent a substantial and meaningful community proposal, including:

Enhanced recreational amenity through:

• 7.0km of Active Travel Paths (cycle, pedestrian, wheelers etc.) and 4.9km of new or upgraded footway for the SPAR and Poolbeg Peninsula, which will link with the 1.4km Liffey Tolka Greenway in the North Port, and from there to the 4.0km Tolka Estuary Greenway currently under construction by Dublin Port. DPC will also provide Dublin City Council with a €5 million contribution for future upgrading of the existing coastal path along the southern perimeter of the Poolbeg Peninsula.
• Development of a sailing, rowing and maritime campus (Maritime Village) adjacent to the existing Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club in consultation with local sailing and boating clubs, including a public slipway and facilities for maritime skills training.
• Provision of recreational space in the form of Port Park and Wildflower Meadow (2.5ha) and Coastal Park (1.6ha), and 1.1ha extension to Irishtown Nature Park, and development of a new floodlit playing pitch within Port Park for the use of local football clubs.

CGI Aerial Image of Proposed Area O Ro-Ro Terminal, from Port Park looking east

Enhanced public realm through the development of a new public plaza as a key part of the Maritime Village, and extensive boundary softening works adjacent to the development sites forming part of the 3FM Project.

Community support through the establishment of a new €2 million Community Benefit Fund for Education, Heritage & Maritime Training Skills projects within the Poolbeg area. The initial capital for the Fund will be administered by DPC in consultation with local stakeholders.

Heritage & Biodiversity enhancements through:

• An innovative design approach that will use open-piled structures to protect marine biodiversity by preventing significant infilling of the River Liffey, while also being future-proofed against climate change impacts.
• Sustainable construction practices, low-carbon materials, and energy-efficient infrastructure that will reduce the port’s environmental impact.
• Commissioning a new Public Access Feasibility Study regarding the Great South Wall to identify improved public interpretation, accessibility, facilities and conservation possibilities, with up to €1 million funding to implement the study recommendations.
• Construction of an additional permanent marine structure (dolphin) to expand the available habitat and range of the Dublin Port Tern Colonies.
• Provision of Interpretative Markers to delineate the alignment of the Great South Wall.

Other significant ancillary works include:

Improvements to the existing road network in both the North and South Port, linking and providing access to the port terminals.
Improved pedestrian access from Irishtown to the proposed Maritime Village.
Demolition of the existing Poolbeg Oil Jetty and Sludge Jetty.

Public Consultation

The application for permission, the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the Natura Impact Statement, will be available to inspect during public opening hours for 8 weeks from 31st July 2024 at:

The Offices of An Bord Pleanála 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.
The Offices of Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Woodquay, Dublin 8.
The Offices of Dublin Port Company, Port Centre, Dublin Port, Alexandra Road, Dublin 1.

The application may also be viewed / downloaded from the project website: www.dublinport3fm.ie which will be live from 31 July 2024.

Submissions or observations may be made only to An Bord Pleanála up until 5.30 pm on 25th September 2024. See www.pleanala.ie for further details.

The ports of Cork and Dublin have been sanctioned for multi-million euro grants in EU funding for sustainable, safe and smart transport infrastructure.

The grants come from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the EU’s programme for strategic investment in infrastructure.

The European Commission said that it has selected 134 transport projects to receive over €7 billion in EU grants - representing the largest call under the current CEF Transport programme.

Ireland will receive EUR 157.5 million in funding for five projects.

Two of the five - Cork and Dublin ports - are national, while the other three are multi-country EU projects with participation of an Irish national entity.

Dublin Port's grant is for EUR €73.8 million for the construction of basic port infrastructure to address the expected growth in ro-ro freight traffic.

The project involves the construction of two inter-dependent berths (Berth 52 and Berth 53), double tier linkspans, and installation of shore-side electricity supply. The main benefit of the project will be increased efficiency of ro-ro operations, the European Commission says.

Ship to shore cranes at the Port of Cork's Ringaskiddy Port redevelopment

Port of Cork is to receive EUR €38.4 million for phase 2 of the Ringaskiddy Port Redevelopment.

The project involves the construction of basic port infrastructure at the port of Cork to move port operations away from their current location in the city centre.

The main benefit of the project will be increased efficiency of operations in the port of Cork, the European Commission says.

In total, around 20 maritime ports in Ireland, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Malta, Lithuania, Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, and Poland receive support for infrastructure upgrades, some of which will enable them to supply shore-side electricity to ships, or transport renewable energy.

Around 83% of the funding supports projects that deliver on the EU's climate objectives.

They aim to improve and modernise the EU network of railways, inland waterways and maritime routes along the trans-European transport (TEN-T) network.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said “it is good to see the award of significant CEF funding for projects at Dublin Port Company and the Port of Cork Company”.

“ Both port companies are designated as Tier 1 Ports of National Significance under National Ports Policy, and as “core ports” on the North Sea – Rhine – Mediterranean and Atlantic European transport corridors,”he noted.

“ It is vital that our ports develop modern, smart, sustainable, and resilient transport infrastructure for the economy, for connectivity and as vital hubs for our renewable energy transformation,”he said.

"The Port of Cork’s project will be capable of facilitating the offshore renewable energy industry with full planning permission already in place, while both Dublin Port’s project and the Port of Cork’s project also encompass plans for providing infrastructure for the installation of onshore power supply - showing how vital they are to our energy future,”Ryan said.

Dublin Lord Mayor James Geoghegan today carried out the 536-year-old ‘Casting of the Spear’ tradition in Dublin Bay, becoming the ceremonial Lord Admiral of Dublin Port. The tradition dates to the 15th century and has long been used to signify the close relationship between Dublin City and the Port.

Casting of the Spear officially launches the South Docks Festival, a community event celebrating the rich history and culture of Dublin’s docklands area run by the St Andrews Resource Centre.

Celebrating 37 years of community, this year’s festival theme is “In a world where you can be anything, BE KIND.”

The South Docks festival continues until July 19th with host of family friendly events and activities throughout the week.

Dublin Port CEO Barry O’Connell, Amanda Gaynor, south docks festival coordinator and Dublin Lord Mayor James Geoghegan with his children Hugh (age 6) and Harry (age 4) at the 536-year-old ‘ceremony Photo: Conor McCabe

Don’t miss the South Docks festival parade down Pearse Street followed by the ‘Fair in the Square’ on Friday, July 19th which each year showcases different parts of our vibrant and diverse docklands community.

The tradition of having an honorary Lord Admiral of Dublin Port dates to the year 1488 when the then Lord Mayor Thomas Mayler launched a spear into the ocean to set the eastern-most boundary of Dublin City.

Each year, the Lord Mayor launches their own spear to mark the occasion and reaffirm the connection between the city and port. 

Dublin Port CEO Barry O’Connell said: “We aim to be an integral part of our community and be a hardworking port for Dublin. The Casting of the Spear tradition each year reminds us to always remain connected to the community and environment around us. I thank the Lord Mayor for carrying on this 536-year-old tradition and wish him all the very best for his tenure in the year ahead.”

Lord Mayor James Geoghegan commented: “Dublin is a proud port city and its communities have been inextricably linked with the trade and commerce of the port for hundreds of years. I’m honoured to carry on this rich tradition, highlighting the link between port and people – having a bit of fun with the community in the process. I thank both the Port and St Andrew’s Resource centre for carrying the baton, or spear in this case, of history proudly.”

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is seeking to recruit a full-time Marine Biodiversity and ORE Officer to build capacity in the group and wider eNGO sector in relation to marine biodiversity and offshore renewable energy, and a Marine Mammal Ecologist to assist in the delivery of the Marine Mammal Mitigation Plan for the Dublin Port MP2 project.

The successful candidate for the post of Marine Biodiversity and ORE Officer will assist in developing IWDG conservation policies, build IWDG and the IEN advocacy capability and assist in the delivery of the IWDG strategy. The position is funded by the Irish Environmental Network through the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

This is a full-time job as an IWDG employee for a fixed period of three years, starting 1 September 2024. Gross starting salary is €66,800 in year one with annual increments.

For a full job description and details of how to apply, see HERE. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 19 July.

Meanwhile, the Marine Mammal Ecologist will contribute to the Dublin Port MP2 project, as part of IWDG Consulting’s contract to deliver a Marine Mammal Mitigation Plan (MMMP) on behalf of Dublin Port Company to meet compliance with planning permission and licensing obligations.

This is a full-time contract for a fixed period of two years starting 1 September 2024 (or earlier) with a gross starting salary of €25,603-32,918 (Level 6) depending on experience.

For a full job description and essential qualities, see HERE. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 26 July.

Dublin Port Company (DPC) has welcomed Temple Bar Gallery + Studios (TBG+S) to the Pumphouse for ‘Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home’.

‘Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home’ features two solo exhibitions that will run simultaneously, and present ambitious work from two highly-accomplished artists, Yuri Pattison and Liliane Puthod.

The unique heritage of Dublin Port lends itself perfectly to the artists’ considerations of geographic, economic and transport networks. Both artists use symbolism of rivers and seas, capturing how the flow of time speaks to the idea of life as a circle and the transitory nature of things, making the Pumphouse the ideal venue for TBG+S to curate two off-site installations.

Yuri Pattison’s dream sequence is a site-specific installation which includes a computer-generated video, sculpture and a soundtrack arrange on a ‘Disklavier’ piano (self-playing). Data collected from local monitoring sites at Dublin Port manipulates and alters the aesthetic, auditory and structural elements of the work.

Liliane Puthod’s new exhibition Beep Beep is a large-scale immersive installation which integrates personal family narratives with the social history of the Renault 4, a popular 60s car. For this exhibition, Puthod has reanimated her late father’s 1962 R4 from its dusty shed in her hometown of Reignier, France, and documented the journey of this ‘time machine’ to Ireland.

Artist Liliane Puthod with her late father’s 1962 Renault 4 that features in the ‘Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home’ exhibitions taking place at Dublin Port Company’s Pumphouse on Alexandra Road. The exhibitions draw from the unique environment of the Port estate to explore geographic, economic and transport networks. It is free of charge for all and open to the public from July 6th until October 27th, 2024. Opening times are Thursday to Sunday, 11am–5pm Photo: Conor McCabe

‘Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home’ includes an accompanying public event programme including weekly Saturday tours; Summer School, a series of free family and adult workshops from 25th to 28th July; and special events for National Heritage Week, Culture Night, Open House Dublin, and Dublin Festival of History.

The exhibitions are made possible through The Arts Council Visual Arts Project Awards.

The Pumphouse, a venue for artist residencies and workshops, is located on Alexandra Road inside Dublin Port’s Heritage Zone.

The two exhibitions will run from July 6th until October 27th, 2024. Opening times are Thursday to Sunday, 11am–5pm and admission is free.

For the duration of the exhibitons, the artists have been commissioned to make work for the Gallery window at TBG+S’ city centre location.

‘Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home’ follows DPC hosting the Dublin Painting and Sketching Club’s 150th anniversary exhibition ‘Shorelines’ in The Substation on Alexandra Road.

Lar Joye, Port Heritage Director at Dublin Port Company, said: “We are pleased to partner with Temple Bar Gallery + Studios for these amazing port-specific exhibtions at the Pumphouse.

“We have enjoyed a close and rewarding collaboration with Temple Bar Gallery + Studios and that has allowed us to bring these exhibitions to life.

“The Pumphouse forms part of our deep committement to port-city integration and exhibitions like these are part of Dublin Port Company’s ongoing effort to making the port more accessible to the general public. This includes partnering with leading arts organisations such as TBG+S and ensuring that the artists they work with have an appropriate venue to display their work for the public to enjoy.

“Yuri and Liliane have created something really special and I would encourage people to come to the port and see it.”

Artist Liliane Puthod said: “Dublin Port is a significant site for my new exhibition. I have revived my late father’s R4 and made the journey from France to Dublin as an ongoing investigation into Irish and French industrial landscapes.

“While this project reflects on global consumption and distribution network, I see the port as a special place that deeply encapsulates the passing of time, movement of goods, and narratives in relation to places and individuals.”

Clíodhna Shaffrey, Director of Temple Bar Gallery + Studios commented: “Temple Bar Gallery + Studios is honoured to bring two exhibitions of scale and ambition to Dublin Port’s Pumphouse landmark venue. This setting and what it resonates gives a vital aspect to both Yuri’s and Liliane’s work and allows people a poignant encounter with exemplary contemporary art.

“Dublin Port is now a desirable place for the artisic community. At a time when artists are increasingly finding it harder than ever to locate a place to create and exhibit their work in Dublin City, this partnership between DPC and TBG+S is more important than ever.

“We look forward to welcoming people to the exhibitions, made possible through this exciting partnership with Dublin Port Company.”

The Pumphouse is part of DPC’s Distributed Museum, which includes The Diving Bell on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and The Substation at Port Centre. The Distributed Museum route will be connected through 5.3km of dedicated cycleway and pedestrian walkways in the Port estate and the surrounding area. The Distributed Museum is part of DPC’s Port-City Integration programme to increase public access and celebrate Dublin’s Port-City heritage.

Dublin Port is recruiting for a technical supervisor (electrical), a key role within the port’s Engineering Services structure, leading and motivating a team of experienced and highly skilled crafts specialists.

The role reports directly to the technical manager and is responsible for ensuring the effective monitoring and maintenance of all Dublin Port Company-owned electrical infrastructure across the port estate, including but not limited to low and medium voltage distribution systems, PLCs, SCADA systems, HMI systems, high mast and street lighting, ro-ro ramps, passenger gangways, marine vessels and pumping stations in Ireland’s largest port to always ensure its safe and efficient operation.

The successful candidate will work closely with the technical manager and the wider Engineering Services team, providing technical expertise, support services, efficiencies and continuous improvement initiatives and ideas to maintain and improve all applicable electrical system assets across the port estate.

Applicants must be a qualified craft electrician with a minimum NFQ Level 6 Advanced Electrical Craft Certificate or a qualification recognised as an equivalent to NFQ Level 6. Applicants should satisfy themselves that their qualification is at the required NFQ Level 6 or equivalent before making an application.

For more details on the role, including key responsibilities and how to apply, see the IMDO website HERE.

Dublin SafePort, the port-wide collaborative safety initiative at Dublin Port, has been recognised by the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) at its congress in Tanger Med, Morocco.

One of the IMHA’s three annual prizes, the ‘Safe, Efficient & Secure Port Award’ recognises operational leadership from across the IHMA’s global membership in 50 countries. Dublin SafePort was commended as a model of excellence in terms of impact and collaboration.

Dublin Port Harbour Master and Dublin SafePort Chair Captain Michael McKenna said: “The embedded safety culture and alignment of procedures across the unitised terminals has been achieved through collaboration across the terminals. These enhanced safety relationships support the delivery and operation of new and upgraded infrastructure at the Port.

“Dublin Port is an extremely busy world-class route-to-market, and this international recognition of our combined safety commitment is very positive and welcome.

“We have some 50 ship movements and 11,000 vehicles on the road each day, enabling €80 billion of trade annually. We are also opening up parts of the Port to the public through a range of cultural initiatives, across which safety remains a top priority.

“With this level of activity, a common safety culture is essential - through SafePort we have aligned practices around Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), speed limits and many other procedures, and have greatly increased health and safety awareness across the 261-hectare Port estate.

“This international award is a commendation to the hard work and commitment of everyone at the 11 partners who collectively make up Dublin SafePort and who reinforce safety as a pre-requisite every day.”

About Dublin Safeport

Launched in 2022, the Dublin SafePort initiative is the result of extensive collaboration between Dublin Port Company and the six unitised terminal operators at Dublin Port - Dublin Ferryport Terminals, Doyle Shipping Group, Irish Ferries, Peel Ports Group (MTL), Seatruck Ferries (now CLdN RoRo Ltd) and Stena Line. Together, they account for an estimated 75% of port workers on the Dublin Port estate.

Recently the initiative has grown to include An Garda Síochána, Revenue, HSE and North Quay Associates all of whom have significant numbers of staff working across the unitised terminals.

Under Dublin SafePort, safety awareness campaigns, training and initiatives take place port-wide with the objective of enhancing port safety culture and practice for the long-term.

About the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA)

The International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) is a professional membership association for those responsible for the safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sound conduct of marine operations in port waters. The Association brings together Harbour Masters and all those who hold a managerial position in aspects of the control of marine operations within a port. Its members include port operations managers, VTS managers, and many others, as well as of course Harbour Masters.

The IHMA unites those responsible for the safe, efficient and secure navigation of port waters with members representing more than 50 nations, extending throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Australasia, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. Members are from ports large and small, publicly and privately owned, and represent a unique source of up-to-date, hands-on expertise in a range of port and maritime operations, including safety of navigation, vessel traffic control, shipping movements, port management, protection of the marine environment, the ship/port interface, cargo handling and safe stowage, safety management and training, and port security.

Dublin Port Company (DPC) is welcoming back its breeding terns for the summer months.

Among these returning birds is likely an Arctic Tern that was first ringed in Dublin Port in the year 2000 and has been flying back and forth from Antarctica ever since. At least 23 years old, this is the oldest Arctic Tern on record in the Republic of Ireland.

A Common Tern, also first ringed in 2000, was observed nesting in the port last year too, and has been migrating back and forth to West Africa all these years.

As Afloat reported earlier, Dublin Port is home to a wide range of bird species throughout the year, including nesting Black Guillemots (a relative of the Puffin) and even Peregrine Falcons, the fastest bird in the world. DPC is particularly protective of the terns, who breed within the port area during the summer, as they are listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive due to their threatened status across Europe. There are two species of tern – the Common and Arctic – that nest in the Dublin Port colony.

BirdWatch Ireland has been researching and monitoring these birds with the support of DPC since 2013 and there is now a robust database of information, meaning a great deal more is now known about the avian inhabitants of Dublin Bay.

Helen Boland, Manager of the Dublin Bay Birds Project at Birdwatch Ireland, at the purpose-built pontoon for common and arctic terns at Dublin Port, alongside the iconic Great South Wall

In anticipation of the birds’ return, DPC has recently redeployed its pontoon - purpose-built for terns - off Dublin’s iconic Great South Wall. The pontoon is specially designed to provide the seabirds with a safe place to nest and has been fitted with perimeter boards to protect from predators.

The pontoon is located approximately 100 metres off the Half-Moon swimming club that can be seen by walkers on the Great South Wall Photo: Afloat

DPC originally installed this platform in 2015 following the successful deployment of the first pontoon at the Tolka Estuary in 2013. BirdWatch Ireland collaborates closely with DPC to ensure that conservation measures are in place for these protected species so they can keep thriving in this unique man-made environment.

The pontoon is located approximately 100 metres off the Half-Moon swimming club and can be seen by walkers on the Wall. There are also two other permanent structures in the port area for terns to nest.

Last year’s devastating Avian Flu had a significant impact on Dublin Port’s birds, eliminating almost 20% of the breeding adult terns along with many chicks. BirdWatch Ireland will work closely with DPC to assess for any signs of it at the tern colony this year.

These measures are just the latest example of DPC working to promote biodiversity in the Dublin Port area. It follows DPC’s recent launch of its groundbreaking eco-engineering initiative in collaboration with University College Dublin. This involved deploying artificial fish habitats along the Great South Wall that aim to enhance marine biodiversity.

Helen Boland, Dublin Bay Birds Project Manager at BirdWatch Ireland commented:

“The deployment of the pontoon represents the start of a new tern breeding season and time for us once again to make sure protective measures are in place to help the terns to have a successful year. BirdWatch Ireland is delighted to continue its collaboration with Dublin Port Company which has enabled us to significantly ramp up operations that were being done on a shoestring budget before DPC came on board in 2013.”

Eamon McElroy, DPC Port Engineer added: “We are delighted to see the tern colonies arrive back to the Dublin Port pontoons, as they have done for 11 years now. Dublin Port Company is deeply committed to taking care of the environment in the port area in all its forms. This includes doing our part to preserve and enhance biodiversity.

“As demonstrated by our recent fish habitat collaboration with UCD and now our deployment of the pontoon at the Great South Wall, we are determined to look after all the species within our local environment.”

Dublin Port’s resident colony of terns is “thriving”, according to the wildlife charity that has been monitoring their progress for over 10 years.

Helen Boland, manager of BirdWatch Ireland’s Dublin Bay Birds Project tells RTÉ News: “The numbers have been going up and up over the past few years — generally around 500-600 pairs. They are thriving.”

Both common and Arctic terns nest in the port on four platforms, two of them pontoons built for this purpose.

The seabirds migrate here over vast distances — the former from West Africa and the latter from as far as Antarctica, the longest migration of any bird species.

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.

So many boat events are scheduled in Ireland for this weekend that the powers-that-be should maybe take notice, and make it into the Bank Holiday that everyone seems to think it is. The official one at the beginning of May is too early, and has never really taken off, as many people just leave Ireland altogether and fly south for the sun, which is no help for any Irish organisation.

Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association and hospitable Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club in Ringsend are past masters at making folk in from the sea very welcome indeed, and the poster more than hints at the entertainment being lined up along the Liffey for three days hence and beyond.