Port Owner of Holyhead Say 'Freeport' Status Could Create 13,000 Jobs

22nd November 2022

The Stena owned port of Holyhead is among five ports in Wales in a bid for freeport status Above Afloat adds is the port's Salt Island ferry terminal with on the right, linkspans used by the operator and Irish Ferries. In the centre is the former Anglesey Aluminium jetty and the pier on the left is a former ferry berth. Credit: Lloyd's Loading List-twitter

Jobs in their thousands could be created in north Wales by making the port of Holyhead into a freeport, its owners have claimed.

The Swedish owned ferry company Stena Line which operates to Dublin Port, said it was working with companies that were interested in building factories on Anglesey, if freeport status was granted.

As previoustly reported, Holyhead is expected to be one of five Welsh bidders for freeport status. Both the Welsh and UK governments is to make a joint decision on where the first freeport will be.

The bidding period for a Welsh freeport is to close this Thursday (24 November) and for further information on the Freeport Programme process, visit the Gov.UK website here.

The former 213-acre Anglesey Aluminium site (with a jetty adjacent to ferry terminal) has already been acquired by Stena which has plans to expand operations in the port area.

In addition if the port is awarded the status of a freeport, Stena say the site will be able to facilitate firms to set up factories within the freeport zone.

BBC News Wales has more on this story.

Published in Stena Line

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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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