Warrenpoint Port, the second largest port in Northern Ireland and the fourth biggest on the island of Ireland, used a meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today to impress on him the need for a frictionless border during Brexit negotiations. But Port CEO, Clare Guinness, also said the port is 'actively formulating plans to deal with whatever scenario results from the Brexit negotiations'.
Situated almost directly on the border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Warrenpoint Port last year handled 3.56 million tonnes of cargo worth £6.2 billion, around 40 per cent of which either originated from or was destined for the Republic of Ireland.
Guinness said the meeting provided a welcome "opportunity to meet with the leader of our closest trading partner who is one of the leading figures in the Brexit negotiations".
As Afloat.ie recently reported, Warrenpoint Port has unveiled a major 25-year growth plan as it forecasts a continued growth in trade following Brexit.
"Warrenpoint Port last year handled 3.56 million tonnes of cargo worth £6.2 billion, around 40 per cent of which either originated from or was destined for the Republic of Ireland"
“We used today’s meeting to press on Mr Varadkar, our desire for a border that supports frictionless trade, ensuring that it can continue to flow and grow. While this is our preferred position, we are actively formulating plans to deal with whatever scenario results from the Brexit negotiations.
“We also highlighted the need for improved infrastructure in the border region which would help trade north and south, in particular, the delivery of the Southern Relief Road which has already benefitted from European funding through the feasibility phase.”
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority was created as a Trust Port by legislation in 1971.
In 2017, the value of goods moving through Warrenpoint Port was £6.2billion, £164 million of which was direct international trade. The Port handled 3.48 million tonnes
of cargo in 2016 increasing to 3.56 million tonnes in 2017
The port employs 67 staff directly, but more than 200 people work at the harbour every day.
In addition to serving the markets in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, the Port deals with imports and exports from countries and regions across the world including to Spain, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine and the Americas.
