Iarnród Éireann has said Rosslare Europort has made history as Ireland’s leading port for direct European freight.
The Co Wexford port recorded its highest ever activity with a 371 per cent increase in European freight last year and overall volumes up 50 per cent.
“Despite the challenges of both Covid-19 and Brexit, the history-making year saw over 184,891 RoRo freight units through the port in 2021,” Iarnród Éireann, the national railway operator which runs Rosslare, says.
“With 30 direct services now operating weekly between Rosslare and Europe, there was an increase of 94,477 freight units (+371%) on European direct routes in 2021 with 119,927 units carried,” it says.
It says that routes to and from Britain which have 56 services a week saw a decrease of -32,926 of freight units (-34%) and remain “challenging” as the implications, additional cost and time of Brexit are embedded into the supply chain.
"30 direct services now operating weekly between Rosslare & Europe"
“Overall combined freight at the port grew by 50%, representing the highest yearly growth in the port’s history and demonstrating the national importance of Rosslare Europort as a key connection for freight and passenger services to the UK and Europe,” it says.
Passenger volumes at the port, while suppressed over the past two years as a result of Covid-19, also grew significantly with 243,303 passengers (+68% increase) travelling through the port in 2021, Iarnród Éireann says.
“It’s been a really tremendous performance by Rosslare Europort in 2021 and I am delighted that the plans we put in place over the last few years are yielding such positive results,” Rosslare Europort’s general manager Glenn Carr has said.
“It’s a great credit to all the colleagues who work at the port, our shipping partners, stakeholders and of course our customers who have helped in the positive transformation that we are now seeing,”he said.
“As major ports such as Dublin grapple with future constraints and congestion, Rosslare Europort will be further developed to help alleviate these challenges and offer real viable, efficient and sustainable alternative services and connectivity for the greater good of the wider economy,” he said.
“Our plans have been strongly endorsed and supported by the Iarnród Éireann Board which has enabled significant investment in infrastructure, services and resources. This will ensure the development of Rosslare Europort as a key generator of economic activity for the region and country,” he said.
The “most significant investment ever” is due to be translated into digitalisation of the port, new infrastructure for customs and border control, and initiation of work on securing planning for an offshore renewable energy facility (Project REORE) at Rosslare from 2025, he noted.
Rosslare Europort Freight and Passenger Volumes 2021 v 2020
