At the Port of Sligo, there are currently no proposals to undertake any dredging of the north-west harbour, which hasn’t been cleared of silt for several years.
The issue is leading to concerns of the only commercial port between Galway and Derry, that it could impact the future viability of Co. Sligo Harbour, which, in recent years, has seen a rise in shipping cargo volumes, as Afloat previously reported.
Among them, Norwegian shipowner Wilson ASA, whose dry-cargo trader, Plato (pictured in the Sligo Champion’s coverage), became stranded, but this occurred more than a decade ago.
Councillor Declan Bree commented that the Ihe has significant concerns regarding silt volumes in the shipping channel, which he understands have nearly doubled over the past 15 years. “Without some level of dredging, there is a danger that larger commercial cargo ships may eventually be blocked from entering the port,” he said.
Over the past few years, shipping activity has remained strong, with export volumes remaining robust. In 2025 the port operated by Sligo County Council (see related story) recorded the highest annual cargo throughput of the period at 37,639.93 tonnes.
Further data shows that on the 13 July of this year, Sligo had already handled 24 merchant vessels and 34,090.20 tonnes of cargo, placing the port on course to exceed 2024 throughput.
Much more from the regional newspaper here, including a report to Monday’s meeting of the Borough of Sligo Municipal District regarding the port’s prospects and challenges.
