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Bantry Bay Port Bucks Trend With 81% Trade Jump

28th February 2021
Bantry Bay Port total traffic was up 81% to 1.3m tonnes in 2020, compared with 2019. Above AFLOAT's photo of tanker, Seasprat at the Single Point Mooring system where during operations at the SPM, only such vessels engaged by the Oil Storage Facility on Whiddy Island to assist in the operation or authorised by the Harbour Master, are permitted to enter an Exclusion Zone. Bantry Bay Port total traffic was up 81% to 1.3m tonnes in 2020, compared with 2019. Above AFLOAT's photo of tanker, Seasprat at the Single Point Mooring system where during operations at the SPM, only such vessels engaged by the Oil Storage Facility on Whiddy Island to assist in the operation or authorised by the Harbour Master, are permitted to enter an Exclusion Zone. Credit: Jehan Ashmore

Bantry Bay's busy port traffic to and from the national oil reserve facility at Whiddy Island, has led to the port recording a strong performance last year, despite its sister port, Port of Cork, seeing trade falling 2% to 9.2m tonnes last year.

As the The Southern Star reports, the Bantry Bay Port Company, by far the smaller ‘sister’ port, saw its total traffic jump a massive 81% to 1.3m tonnes, compared to the previous year.

The overall Port of Cork dip is a direct result of the challenges posed by Covid-19, and the cancellation of cruise calls in particular.

But a spokesperson for both companies said the strong Bantry result could be attributed to ‘increased traffic movements to and from the National Oil Reserve’.

‘We also saw a surge in the need for oil storage,’ the spokesperson added. Click for more here

Also in Bantry Bay, Afloat adds off scenic Glengariff is where anchorage visits of cruiseship classic Marco Polo were highlighted and also recalled.

The south-west port had 16 cruise calls scheduled including Marco Polo (May) last year, however Covid put an end to that including its operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

Due to the pandemic's dramatic affect, the UK operator CMV went into adminstration, which would lead to a knock on effect, including Marco Polo which despite been sold, with hope that the new owners plan for a static hotel role in Dubai would materialise.

This however was not to be as plans were abandoned with the veteran vessel instead sold to Indian shipbreakers with an arrival only last month. 

Published in Irish Ports
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

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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