Rosslare Europort says it recorded further growth last year, with over 200,000 freight units passing through the port for the first time in its history.
Overall freight in the past two years has grown cumulatively by 53% with a 398% increase in continental trade, Iarnród Éireann, port authority for the Co Wexford harbour, said in a statement.
The Co Wexford port also secured a new twice-weekly direct service to Zeebrugge with Finnlines, part of the Grimaldi Group, in 2022.
It says there was a “significant return” to the passenger business, with over 550,000 people using the port. This represents a 128% increase on 2021, and just 5% behind 2019 pre-Covid levels, it says.
Rosslare Europort says it “remains Ireland's number one port for direct freight and passenger services to the EU”.
Along with 58 weekly services to and from Britain, the port now also operates over 34 services between Rosslare and Bilbao, Cherbourg, La Havre, Dunkirk and Zeebrugge.
It says it is now the only port in Europe to have “the three largest ro-ro brands operating services collectively”.
“We continue to see increased growth and demand at Rosslare Europort and our focus is on further delivering port infrastructure and services that supports Ireland’s exporters, importers, tourism and energy renewable industries,” the port’s director of commercial business units Glen Carr said.
“2022 was a tremendous year for freight at the port and we also welcomed back significant passenger numbers using Rosslare,” he said.
“ As we go through 2023 and beyond, we will see historic levels of investment in numerous projects. Not only will these reinforce Rosslare Europort’s position as Ireland’s gateway for freight and passenger traffic to Europe, but will also see the port emerge as Ireland’s national hub to support the offshore renewable wind projects planned for the Irish and Celtic Seas,” he said.
The port has investment plans, costing about 350 million euro in total.
The plans include digitalisation of systems and operations, along with new freight and passenger facilities, storage, export and import facilities, berth extension, new freight entrance, new car parking areas, lighting, security and complete resurfacing of all ground areas.
It plans an offshore renewable energy (ORE) hub development, including an ORE purpose-built quay and berth, ORE quayside storage and pre-construction / up to 50 acres in area, navigable channel dredged down to a minimum of 9 metres depth, and management control centre and management offices and facilities.
The Office of Public Works is also developing a permanent border control post within the port, and a new N25 Rosslare Europort access road is being developed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
