The Port of Galway says that “Christmas has come early” for it, with confirmation that it has been recognised for European TEN-T status.
The development has been welcomed by the harbourmaster, Capt Brian Sheridan, and Galway West junior minister and Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton.
As Afloat previously reported, Galway’s leading role as an importer for onshore wind projects had swung the deal and has “ effectively changed European policy”, Sheridan notes this week.
The status will allow the port to apply for funding under the EU’s Connecting Europe facility, which aims to remove bottlenecks and technical barriers to a streamlined transport system onshore and at sea.
The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy addresses the implementation and development of a Europe-wide network of railway lines, roads, inland waterways, maritime shipping routes, ports, airports and railroad terminals.
“We are on our 18th onshore wind project, with 700 megawatts or 0.7 gigawatts of onshore wind turbines and blades having come through Galway,” Sheridan said.
Port of Galway Harbourmaster, Capt Brian Sheridan
“We are the leading Irish port for onshore wind, and we had argued in Brussels since 2013 that measuring port performance indicators for TEN-T by tonnage and passenger numbers should be revised to include ports that helped to meet targets for climate action and the European Green Deal,” he explained.
The agreement in principle to include Galway was signalled a year ago at an EU transport ministerial council, when a regulation relating to TEN-T was revised to allow for climate change policy goals.
“The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) designation for the Port of Galway signifies its integration into a comprehensive European transportation framework,” the Port of Galway said in a statement.
“ This inclusion is significant as it enhances connectivity and accessibility, promoting efficient transportation links between Galway and other key European ports,” it said.
“ It will lead to improved infrastructure, opening the door to EU funding, streamlined logistics, and increased trade opportunities, fostering economic growth for the region and strengthening its role in the broader European transportation network,”it said.
“Christmas has come early,” it concluded.
“For Ireland, the new regulation will mean that upgrading intercity and regional rail lines on the TEN-T network, developing our main ports, linking key infrastructure such as Dublin Airport to rail, developing multi-modal freight terminals, and better integrating local and national transport infrastructure in the designated urban nodes on the network of Dublin, Cork and now Galway, will all be eligible to apply for funding under the EU’s Connecting Europe facility,” Ms Naughton has said.
Galway West junior minister and Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton
Ms Naughton was junior minister for transport when the EU moved to revise its regulation. She is currently Government chief whip and junior minister for public health.
