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Displaying items by tag: MSC Lirica

#CAPITAL CRUISE CALLS – Tonight two cruiseships are due to depart Dublin Port, they are Plantours Cruises Hamburg (2007/15,067grt), which made its maiden 'Irish' debut call to the capital, followed by Compagnie du Ponant's Le Diamant, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Plantours is a German based operator and is one of several new entrants providing cruises to Irish ports, as previously reported on Afloat.ie. Among the newcomers are MSC Cruises, whose MSC Lirica finally made her first call to Cobh at the weekend, as an earlier scheduled call this month, was cancelled due to bad weather.

Both the visiting vessels to Dublin Port today, had by coincidence arrived from Penzance, Cornwall and the Hamburg, is no stranger to the capital, having previously operated as Hapag-Lloyd's C. Columbus.

Whereas the French operated Le Diamant (1974/8,282grt) has been in Irish waters throughout this month, with a call to Galway on 17th August. On the same day Voyages of Discovery, which is part of the All Leisure Group, saw their Discovery also make an anchorage call of the mid-western port.

Published in Cruise Liners

#PORTS & SHIPPING REVIEW - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the Shipping scene where the Port of Cork Company posted an operating profit before exceptional costs of €1.3 million – down by €700,000 from 2010 – on a turnover of €21.4 million.

Dublin Port welcomed a new cruise operator, MSC Cruises when the 59,000 tonnes MSC Lirica made her maiden 'Irish' port of call, which was followed by visit to Cobh in mid-August. On the same day of MSC Lirica's call to the capital, P&O Cruises Adonia became the second caller so far this season to Foynes on the Shannon Estuary.

The luxury liner returned to Dublin yesterday, coinciding with The Tall Ships Race Festival and where today the fleet set off with the highlight of the 'Parade of Sail' which passed off Dun Laoghaire Harbour and Howth Peninsula. The Ecuadorian Navy's barque Guayas lead the parade, as they sailed past the anchored guardship L.E. Emer offshore of the harbour mouth.

For the first time the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire, broke tradition by opening its doors to the public on Mondays, and this will remain so to the end of the summer.

The heavylift cargo-ship HHL Valparasio (2010/17,634grt), believed to be the largest vessel ever to dock in Fenit, Co. Kerry, loaded two ship-to-shore container cranes built by the Liebherr factory outside Killarney, which were bound for the Elizabeth Port, New Jersey in the US.

Also in the same county, the luxury 5-star cruiseship Hebridean Princess was on a 7-night cruise tour of the south-west coast based out of Cobh, where passengers had flown in from the UK. The cruise was unusual in that the ports were all concentrated in that region.

Also based out of Cork is the headquarters of Ardmore Shipping Ltd, whose first of four product tankers was marked by a keel-laying ceremony at a South Korean shipyard.

Single-route operator Celtic Link Ferries chartered ro-pax Celtic Horizon, is running her first peak-season sailings since introduced on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route in October last year.

During this week the Naval Service detained an Irish registered trawler in relation to alleged breaches of technical fishing regulations offshore of Ballycotton. The OPV L.É. Niamh (P52) escorted the vessel to Cork. This followed another detainment off Ballycotton and again an Irish trawler, for the same reasons, when the CPV L.É. Ciara (P42) escorted the vessel also to Cobh.

Published in Ports & Shipping

#LIRICA CALLS AGAIN – Only on her second cruise call to Dublin Port, MSC Lirica (2003/59,058grt) as previously reported on Afloat.ie, docked this morning into the capital brimming with tallships, adding another attraction for cruise-goers, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The $250m ship, made her maiden call to Ireland just over a fortnight ago with over 3,000 passengers. The 251m long vessel operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Cruises, which is the newest company to enter the Irish market and in total there are 90 callers to Dublin Port in 2012.

In May next year the port is to welcome another MSC Cruises vessel with the larger 293m MSC Magnifica, which cost $547million and was only completed in 2010.

The value of the sector is estimated to generate €35 and €50 million for the local economy, bringing over 100,000 high-spend passengers and crew to the city and surrounding areas' shops, attractions and eateries each year.

Add to that, an estimated 1 million visitors over the four-day Tall Ships festival, not to mention the international crew of 1,500 and attendant publicity. Albeit the tallships festival in Dublin is an infrequent event as it was held in the capital in 1998.

However this is the opposite with the expanding cruise business sector, where increasingly larger liners are making more regular calls. In order to cope with capacity the Dublin Port Company's Masterplan 2012-2040 has proposed a new €110m cruise terminal identified beside the East Link toll-lift bridge, recent witness to the numerous tallships passing through.

On a nationwide basis, over the last two years, it has been estimated that the cruise ship industry has contributed €20.3 million. Noting many cruise-callers make visits to more than one Irish port, particularly those calling to the premier ports, where economic opportunities for the hinterland's could be worth a potential €60 million over the next few years.

The Swiss headquartered MSC group don't just operate cruiseships, and are not new to Ireland, as for several years through their global container shipping division, its operation here, MSC (Ireland) started providing direct container shipping routes.

Initially they used their own tonnage (later chartered vessels) from one of the world's largest containership fleets, where the MSC compass brand symbol can be seen on the mixed fleet but also on the containers themselves.

Published in Cruise Liners

#CRUISE LINERS – According to the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), a number of calls by international cruise ships to Irish ports, many on their maiden calls to this country, have visited within the first half of 2012.

Irish Ports had confirmed visits for 202 international cruise liners this year and so far they have welcomed a broad collection of vessels including Princess Cruises 'Grand' class liner Grand Princess in January which lead to the disembarkation of an estimated 4,000 visitors to Dublin Port.

Also calling to the capital as previously reported was the $250m luxury cruise liner MSC Lirica carrying almost 3,000 passengers and Cobh during the month of August. She is due to make a repeat call to both ports this weekend, firstly to the capital and then sailing overnight to Cobh.

Over the past two years, it has been estimated that the cruise ship industry has contributed €20.3 million to the island of Ireland.

With the increase in bigger liner ships calling to this country there are clear indications that the contribution that the cruise industry is making to the Irish economy will have a significant influence on the economic opportunities for the hinterland's of Irish host ports, and could be worth a potential €60 million over the next few years.

Most recently, at the Cruise Europe Conference 2012 held at Royal Greenwich, London, Captain Michael McCarthy of the Port of Cork, was unanimously elected Chairman of Cruise Europe. Captain McCarthy is currently serving as Commercial Manager with the Port of Cork Company.

Commenting on the Irish cruise business, the newly elected chairman of Cruise Europe, Captain Michael McCarthy said: "There are many indirect economic and tourism benefits to Ireland from the cruise sector, as well as the benefit of introducing Ireland to new markets and growing business opportunities. Cruise visits help to showcase Ireland's world class shore products, destinations and highlight all that Ireland has to offer visitors."

He continued: "One of Ireland's advantages is the strategic and geographic spread of its numerous ports, many of which are in close proximity to world class tourism destinations and it is with this in mind that Ireland will be promoted with the North and Atlantic European destinations to develop thriving and 'must see' destinations".

Published in Cruise Liners

#CRUISE LINERS – In 2012 the Dublin Port Company can look forward to welcoming 90 cruiseship calls, slightly up compared to this year's season, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The sector in 2011 performed positively with a 7.5% increase in cruise passengers on board 87 cruise-calls. In total  they brought over 135,000 passengers and crew to the capital, generating between €35 - €55m to the local economy.

The increase in passengers brings the total number of high-spend cruise passengers to almost 750,000 since 2000, providing a boon to city-centre businesses to the tune of over €400m in that period.

Once again cruiseships from the leading operators are scheduled to Dublin Port in 2012. They will appear in the form of  the small, medium and giant-sized ships, many of which will be making more than one cruisecall throughout the season, which starts in April and culminates in October.

To view a timetable of cruiseships calling to Dublin Port see below.

A newcomer will be Kristina Katarina (1982/12,668grt) which is operated by Finnish owners Kristina Cruises. The former Russian ship replaced Kristina Regina last year due to new safety regulations which forced the veteran vessel to withdraw from service. 

Mediterranean Shipping Lines (MSL) which operates container services to Ireland, will be deploying the 1,560 passenger MSC Lirica (2003/59,038grt). To view more about this French built cruiseship click HERE.

While the veteran Arion (1965/5,888grt) makes a welcome return for those with an affinity to smaller classic vessels, she orignially served in the Adriatic and was built at the Uljanik Shipyard in Pula, Croatia.

Ship Name ETA Ship Length Expected From NAME
ARION13/04/2012 12:00118.00FalmouthBurke Shipping Group
GRAND PRINCESS18/04/2012 07:00289.52nullBurke Shipping Group
QUEST24/04/2012 06:0049.65British - OthersHamilton Shipping
LE BOREAL26/04/2012 07:00142.10nullBurke Shipping Group
MARCO POLO28/04/2012 07:00176.28British - OthersHamilton Shipping
ALBATROS04/05/2012 10:00205.46nullBurke Shipping Group
BOUDICCA06/05/2012 07:00206.96nullBurke Shipping Group
LE BOREAL06/05/2012 07:00142.10nullBurke Shipping Group
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS11/05/2012 05:30289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
QUEST FOR ADVENTURE11/05/2012 07:00170.00nullBurke Shipping Group
QUEST13/05/2012 05:0049.65British - OthersHamilton Shipping
VISION OF THE SEAS16/05/2012 11:00279.00CherbourgHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS17/05/2012 06:30289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
SEABOURN SOJOURN17/05/2012 07:00198.19nullHamilton Shipping
SILVER WHISPER18/05/2012 07:00186.00BelfastBurke Shipping Group
CALEDONIAN SKY24/05/2012 05:1590.60British - OthersHamilton Shipping
BRAEMAR24/05/2012 06:30195.92nullBurke Shipping Group
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS29/05/2012 06:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
DELPHIN30/05/2012 07:00156.27British - OthersHamilton Shipping
SILVER EXPLORER01/06/2012 05:30108.11nullBurke Shipping Group
ARION01/06/2012 06:00118.00British - OthersBurke Shipping Group
AZAMARA JOURNEY01/06/2012 07:00181.00Scilly IslesHamilton Shipping
VENTURA05/06/2012 02:00288.61nullHamilton Shipping
SILVER CLOUD06/06/2012 07:00155.81nullBurke Shipping Group
SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER06/06/2012 07:00206.50nullHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS10/06/2012 06:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
ATHENA12/06/2012 06:30160.08British - OthersBurke Shipping Group (D9)
MARINA13/06/2012 07:00251.46nullHamilton Shipping
BLACK WATCH14/06/2012 06:00205.47nullBurke Shipping Group
AIDACARA15/06/2012 06:30193.34CorkInterocean Agencies Ltd.,
MARINA20/06/2012 07:00251.46nullHamilton Shipping
ARCADIA23/06/2012 05:00285.11nullHamilton Shipping
SAGA SAPPHIRE02/07/2012 07:00199.50nullBurke Shipping Group
ARCADIA05/07/2012 03:00285.11nullHamilton Shipping
PRINSENDAM05/07/2012 07:00204.00nullHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS11/07/2012 06:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
EUROPA11/07/2012 11:59198.60British - OthersHapag Lloyd (Irl) Ltd.,
NAUTICA20/07/2012 07:00181.00nullHamilton Shipping
PRINSENDAM21/07/2012 06:00204.00nullHamilton Shipping
MINERVA21/07/2012 07:00133.00nullHamilton Shipping
DEUTSCHLAND21/07/2012 07:00175.30nullLeinster Shipping (Agencies) Ltd
MARCO POLO26/07/2012 07:00176.28British - OthersHamilton Shipping
MEIN SCHIFF II29/07/2012 06:00263.90BelfastHamilton Shipping
NAUTICA31/07/2012 07:00181.00nullHamilton Shipping
AZAMARA JOURNEY01/08/2012 15:30181.00British - OthersHamilton Shipping
HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS01/08/2012 19:3071.63nullHamilton Shipping
QUEEN ELIZABETH04/08/2012 10:30294.00nullHamilton Shipping
MAASDAM04/08/2012 11:00219.21nullHamilton Shipping
OCEAN PRINCESS05/08/2012 06:00181.00nullBurke Shipping Group
CLIPPER ODYSSEY07/08/2012 07:00102.96BelfastHamilton Shipping
ASTOR07/08/2012 09:30176.26nullHamilton Shipping
KRISTINA KATARINA09/08/2012 06:00137.10nullHamilton Shipping
SILVER CLOUD09/08/2012 07:00155.81nullBurke Shipping Group
ADONIA09/08/2012 07:00181.00nullHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS10/08/2012 06:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
MSC LIRICA14/08/2012 07:00251.25ObanHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS16/08/2012 01:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
PRINSENDAM18/08/2012 06:30204.00nullHamilton Shipping
HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS18/08/2012 09:3071.63KinsaleHamilton Shipping
AIDACARA19/08/2012 06:30193.34CorkInterocean Agencies Ltd.,
OCEAN PRINCESS20/08/2012 06:00181.00nullBurke Shipping Group
ORIANA20/08/2012 11:59260.00nullHamilton Shipping
CLIPPER ODYSSEY21/08/2012 02:15102.96BelfastHamilton Shipping
QUEST FOR ADVENTURE21/08/2012 07:00170.00nullBurke Shipping Group
MSC LIRICA25/08/2012 07:00251.25ObanHamilton Shipping
SAGA SAPPHIRE26/08/2012 06:00199.50nullBurke Shipping Group
AIDAAURA26/08/2012 06:30203.20La CorrunaInterocean Agencies Ltd.,
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS27/08/2012 07:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
HAMBURG28/08/2012 09:30145.00British - OthersHamilton Shipping
LE DIAMANT28/08/2012 11:30124.19nullBurke Shipping Group
PRINCESS DAPHNE29/08/2012 07:15162.39FalmouthBurke Shipping Group
PRINCESS DANAE30/08/2012 07:00162.31BelfastBurke Shipping Group
CRYSTAL SYMPHONY31/08/2012 02:30238.01BelfastHamilton Shipping
DELPHIN01/09/2012 07:00156.27FalmouthHamilton Shipping
SILVER EXPLORER02/09/2012 05:30108.11nullBurke Shipping Group
EXPLORER02/09/2012 07:15180.40nullBurke Shipping Group
JEWEL OF THE SEAS04/09/2012 03:45293.95CorkHamilton Shipping
MSC LIRICA04/09/2012 07:00251.25ObanHamilton Shipping
THOMSON SPIRIT05/09/2012 06:45214.66CorkHamilton Shipping
CRYSTAL SYMPHONY07/09/2012 05:30238.01nullHamilton Shipping
MARCO POLO07/09/2012 07:00176.28British - OthersHamilton Shipping
MARINA08/09/2012 07:00251.46nullHamilton Shipping
SEABOURN SOJOURN12/09/2012 06:00198.19nullHamilton Shipping
SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER13/09/2012 07:00206.50nullHamilton Shipping
ALBATROS14/09/2012 07:00205.46nullBurke Shipping Group
EMERALD PRINCESS15/09/2012 08:15288.61nullBurke Shipping Group (D9)
LE DIAMANT16/09/2012 11:30124.19nullBurke Shipping Group
OCEAN COUNTESS26/09/2012 08:30163.56La CorrunaHamilton Shipping
NORWEGIAN SUN27/09/2012 07:00258.57GreenockHamilton Shipping
OCEAN COUNTESS08/10/2012 08:30163.56VigoHamilton Shipping
MARCO POLO12/04/2013 03:45176.28British - OthersHamilton Shipping
CROWN PRINCESS26/04/2013 11:59288.63nullBurke Shipping Group
FRAM05/05/2013 07:00113.86CorkHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS08/05/2013 07:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
ARTANIA16/05/2013 07:00230.61nullBurke Shipping Group
CELEBRITY INFINITY17/05/2013 06:30294.00CorkHamilton Shipping
MEIN SCHIFF I18/05/2013 06:00263.90BelfastHamilton Shipping
TBN18/05/2013 07:00999.00WaterfordHamilton Shipping
SILVER EXPLORER19/05/2013 05:30108.11nullBurke Shipping Group
VISION OF THE SEAS20/05/2013 07:00279.00CherbourgHamilton Shipping
SILVER WHISPER20/05/2013 07:00186.00nullBurke Shipping Group
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS21/05/2013 07:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
EXPLORER22/05/2013 06:45180.40BelfastBurke Shipping Group
SILVER EXPLORER25/05/2013 06:00108.11nullBurke Shipping Group
BRAEMAR27/05/2013 11:30195.92nullBurke Shipping Group
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS27/05/2013 11:59289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
MSC MAGNIFICA28/05/2013 03:45293.80GreenockHamilton Shipping
TBN30/05/2013 06:00999.00British - OthersHamilton Shipping
SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER05/06/2013 07:00206.50CorkHamilton Shipping
CELEBRITY INFINITY08/06/2013 09:30294.00WaterfordHamilton Shipping
DEUTSCHLAND09/06/2013 07:00175.30nullLeinster Shipping (Agencies) Ltd
MARINA09/06/2013 07:15251.46CorkHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS14/06/2013 07:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
ASTOR19/06/2013 06:00176.26CorkHamilton Shipping
PRINSENDAM23/06/2013 06:00204.00WaterfordHamilton Shipping
NAUTICA30/06/2013 07:00181.00Isle of ManHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS02/07/2013 07:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
SEA PRINCESS08/07/2013 11:59261.31nullBurke Shipping Group
ARCADIA09/07/2013 11:59285.11nullBurke Shipping Group
THE WORLD11/07/2013 09:45196.35GalwayHamilton Shipping
SEA CLOUD II14/07/2013 06:00117.00nullHamilton Shipping
AZAMARA QUEST14/07/2013 06:00181.00Isle of ManHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS14/07/2013 07:00289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
BOUDICCA15/07/2013 07:00206.96nullBurke Shipping Group
DEUTSCHLAND16/07/2013 07:00175.30nullLeinster Shipping (Agencies) Ltd
WIND SURF18/07/2013 07:00187.20HolyheadHamilton Shipping
BALMORAL18/07/2013 16:30217.91nullBurke Shipping Group
ARTANIA24/07/2013 11:59230.61nullBurke Shipping Group
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS26/07/2013 11:59289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
ORIANA26/07/2013 11:59260.00nullBurke Shipping Group
SAGA SAPPHIRE29/07/2013 07:00199.50nullBurke Shipping Group
EURODAM29/07/2013 07:00285.43nullHamilton Shipping
SEA CLOUD II30/07/2013 06:00117.00British - OthersHamilton Shipping
SILVER CLOUD31/07/2013 07:00155.81BelfastBurke Shipping Group
OCEAN PRINCESS01/08/2013 07:00181.00nullBurke Shipping Group
VEENDAM03/08/2013 06:00219.21WaterfordHamilton Shipping
MARINA07/08/2013 07:15251.46BelfastHamilton Shipping
QUEEN ELIZABETH07/08/2013 11:59294.00nullBurke Shipping Group
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS07/08/2013 11:59289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
PRINSENDAM09/08/2013 07:00204.00nullHamilton Shipping
CELEBRITY INFINITY09/08/2013 11:00294.00WaterfordHamilton Shipping
DISCOVERY09/08/2013 12:00168.74nullHamilton Shipping
EUROPA10/08/2013 06:00198.60AyrHapag Lloyd (Irl) Ltd.,
OCEAN PRINCESS10/08/2013 07:00181.00nullBurke Shipping Group
SILVER CLOUD11/08/2013 07:00155.81BelfastBurke Shipping Group
OCEAN MAJESTY14/08/2013 07:00135.30FalmouthHamilton Shipping
AIDACARA16/08/2013 06:30193.34CorkInterocean Agencies Ltd.,
BRAEMAR16/08/2013 07:00195.92nullBurke Shipping Group
PACIFIC STAR PRINCESS17/08/2013 07:0075.00CardiffHamilton Shipping
OCEAN PRINCESS18/08/2013 07:00181.00nullBurke Shipping Group
MSC MAGNIFICA19/08/2013 07:00293.80GreenockHamilton Shipping
CARIBBEAN PRINCESS19/08/2013 11:59289.56nullBurke Shipping Group
COLUMBUS 220/08/2013 07:00181.00Isle of ManHapag Lloyd (Irl) Ltd.,
ALBATROS21/08/2013 07:00205.46nullBurke Shipping Group
ORIANA21/08/2013 11:59260.00nullBurke Shipping Group
NAUTICA24/08/2013 07:00181.00BelfastHamilton Shipping
MINERVA25/08/2013 11:00133.00British - OthersHamilton Shipping
CRYSTAL SERENITY26/08/2013 01:00250.00nullHamilton Shipping
OCEAN PRINCESS27/08/2013 07:00181.00nullBurke Shipping Group
BOUDICCA28/08/2013 12:00206.96nullBurke Shipping Group
SAGA SAPPHIRE29/08/2013 07:00199.50nullBurke Shipping Group
AIDACARA30/08/2013 06:30193.34CorkInterocean Agencies Ltd.,
CELEBRITY INFINITY31/08/2013 07:00294.00WaterfordHamilton Shipping
WIND SURF31/08/2013 07:00187.20Isle of ManHamilton Shipping
OCEAN PRINCESS03/09/2013 07:00181.00nullBurke Shipping Group
THOMSON SPIRIT03/09/2013 07:00214.66BelfastHamilton Shipping
JEWEL OF THE SEAS04/09/2013 09:30293.95CorkHamilton Shipping
SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER09/09/2013 07:00206.50nullHamilton Shipping
BREMEN10/09/2013 07:00111.51British - OthersHamilton Shipping
VISION OF THE SEAS11/09/2013 05:30279.00CorkHamilton Shipping
SEABOURN PRIDE11/09/2013 05:30133.80nullHamilton Shipping
BOUDICCA13/09/2013 18:00206.96nullBurke Shipping Group
SILVER WHISPER14/09/2013 07:00186.00nullBurke Shipping Group
CARNIVAL GLORY22/09/2013 11:59290.20nullBurke Shipping Group
BOUDICCA23/09/2013 09:30206.96nullBurke Shipping Group
BOUDICCA03/10/2013 05:30206.96nullBurke Shipping Group
Published in Cruise Liners

Port of Cork Information

The Port of Cork is the key seaport in the south of Ireland and is one of only two Irish ports which service the requirements of all six shipping modes i.e., Lift-on Lift-off, Roll-on Roll-off, Liquid Bulk, Dry Bulk, Break Bulk and Cruise. Due to its favourable location on the south coast of Ireland and its modern deep-water facilities, the Port of Cork is ideally positioned for additional European trading as well as for yet unexploited direct deep-sea shipping services.

The Port of Cork is investing €80 million in a container terminal development in Ringaskiddy. The Cork Container Terminal will initially offer a 360-metre quay with 13-metre depth alongside and will enable larger ships to berth in the port. The development also includes the construction of a 13.5-hectare terminal and associated buildings as well as two ship to shore gantry cranes and container handling equipment.

The development of new container handling facilities at Ringaskiddy was identified in the Port of Cork’s Strategic Development Plan in 2010. It will accommodate current and future container shipping which can be serviced by modern and efficient cargo handling equipment with innovative terminal operating and vehicle booking systems. The Port of Cork anticipates that Cork Container Terminal will be operational in 2020.

The Port of Cork is the key seaport in the south of Ireland and is one of just two Irish ports which service the requirements of all shipping modes.

The Port of Cork also controls Bantry Bay Port Company and employs 150 people across all locations.

A European Designated Core Port and a Tier 1 Port of National Significance, Port of Cork’s reputation for quality service, including prompt and efficient vessel turnaround as well as the company’s investment in future growth, ensures its position as a vital link in the global supply chain.

The port has made impressive strides in recent decades, most recently with the construction of the new €80m Cork Container Terminal in Ringaskiddy which will facilitate the natural progression of the move from a river port to a deepwater port in order to future proof the Port
of Cork. This state-of-the-art terminal which will open in 2020 will be capable of berthing the largest container ships currently calling to Ireland.

The Port of Cork Company is a commercial semi-state company responsible for the commercial running of the harbour as well as responsibility for navigation and berthage in the port.  The Port is the main port serving the South of Ireland, County Cork and Cork City. 

Types of Shipping Using Port of Cork

The Port offers all six shipping modes from Lift-on Lift-off, Roll-on Roll-off, Liquid Bulk, Dry Bulk, Break Bulk and Cruise liner traffic.

Port of Cork Growth

The port has made impressive strides in recent decades. Since 2000, the Port of Cork has invested €72 million in improving Port infrastructure and facilities. Due to its favourable location and its modern deepwater facilities, the Port is ideally positioned for additional European trading as well as for yet unexploited direct deep-sea shipping services. A well-developed road infrastructure eases the flow of traffic from and to the port. The Port of Cork’s growing reputation for quality service, including prompt and efficient vessel turnaround, ensures its position as a vital link in the global supply chain. The Port of Cork Company turnover in 2018 amounted to €35.4 million, an increase of €3.9 million from €31.5 million in 2017. The combined traffic of both the Ports of Cork and Bantry increased to 10.66 million tonnes in 2018 up from 10.3 million tonnes in 2017.

History of Port of Cork

Famous at the last port of call of the Titanic, these medieval navigation and port facilities of the city and harbour were historically managed by the Cork Harbour Commissioners. Founded in 1814, the Cork Harbour Commissioners moved to the Custom House in 1904.  Following the implementation of the 1996 Harbours Act, by March 1997 all assets of the Commissioners were transferred to the Port of Cork Company.

Commercial Traffic at Port of Cork

Vessels up to 90,000 tonnes deadweight (DWT) are capable of coming through entrance to Cork Harbour. As the shipping channels get shallower the farther inland one travels, access becomes constricted, and only vessels up to 60,000 DWT can sail above Cobh. The Port of Cork provides pilotage and towage facilities for vessels entering Cork Harbour. All vessels accessing the quays in Cork City must be piloted and all vessels exceeding 130 metres in length must be piloted once they pass within 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) of the harbour entrance.

Berthing Facilities in Cork Harbour

The Port of Cork has berthing facilities at Cork City, Tivoli, Cobh and Ringaskiddy. The facilities in Cork City are primarily used for grain and oil transport. Tivoli provides container handling, facilities for oil, livestock and ore and a roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) ramp. Prior to the opening of Ringaskiddy Ferry Port, car ferries sailed from here; now, the Ro-Ro ramp is used by companies importing cars into Ireland. In addition to the ferry terminal, Ringaskiddy has a deep water port.

Port of Cork Development Plans

2020 will be a significant year for the Port of Cork as it prepares to complete and open the €86 million Cork Container Terminal development in Ringaskiddy.

Once operational the new terminal will enable the port to handle up to 450,000 TEU per annum. Port of Cork already possess significant natural depth in Cork harbour, and the work in Ringaskiddy Port will enable the Port of Cork to accommodate vessels of 5500 to 6000 TEU, which will provide a great deal of additional potential for increasing container traffic.

It follows a previous plan hatched in 2006 as the port operated at full capacity the Port drew up plans for a new container facility at Ringaskiddy. This was the subject of major objections and after an Oral Planning Hearing was held in 2008 the Irish planning board Bord Pleanala rejected the plan due to inadequate rail and road links at the location.  

Further notable sustainability projects also include:

  • The Port of Cork have invested in 2 x STS cranes – Type single lift, Model P (148) L, (WS) Super. These cranes contain the most modern and energy-efficient control and monitoring systems currently available on the market and include an LED floodlight system equipped with software to facilitate remote diagnostics, a Crane Management System (CMS) and an energy chain supply on both cranes replacing the previous preferred festoon cabling installation.
  • The Port of Cork has installed High Mast Lighting Voltage Control Units at its two main cargo handling locations – Tivoli Industrial & Dock Estate and Ringaskiddy Deep-water & Ferry Terminals. This investment has led to more efficient energy use and reduced risk of light pollution. The lights can also be controlled remotely.
  • The Port of Cork’s largest electrical consumer at Tivoli Container Terminal is the handling and storage of refrigerated containers. Local data loggers were used to assess energy consumption. This provided timely intervention regarding Power Factor Correction Bank efficiency on our STS (Ship to Shore) Cranes and Substations, allowing for reduced mains demand and reducing wattless energy losses along with excess charges. The information gathered has helped us to design and build a reefer storage facility with energy management and remote monitoring included.

Bantry Port

In 2017 Bantry Bay Port Company completed a significant investment of €8.5 million in the Bantry Inner Harbour development. The development consisted of a leisure marina, widening of the town pier, dredging of the inner harbour and creation of a foreshore amenity space.

Port of Cork Cruise Liner Traffic

2019 was a record cruise season for the Port of Cork with 100 cruise liners visiting. In total over 243,000 passengers and crew visited the region with many passengers visiting Cork for the first time.

Also in 2019, the Port of Cork's Cruise line berth in Cobh was recognised as one of the best cruise destinations in the world, winning in the Top-Rated British Isles & Western Europe Cruise Destination category. 

There has been an increase in cruise ship visits to Cork Harbour in the early 21st century, with 53 such ships visiting the port in 2011, increasing to approximately 100 cruise ship visits by 2019.

These cruise ships berth at the Port of Cork's deepwater quay in Cobh, which is Ireland's only dedicated berth for cruise ships.

Passenger Ferries

Operating since the late 1970s, Brittany Ferries runs a ferry service to Roscoff in France. This operates between April and November from the Ro-Ro facilities at Ringaskiddy. Previous ferry services ran to Swansea in Wales and Santander in Spain. The former, the Swansea Cork ferry, ran initially between 1987 and 2006 and also briefly between 2010 and 2012.

The latter, a Brittany Ferries Cork–Santander service, started in 2018 but was cancelled in early 2020.

Marine Leisure

The Port of Cork has a strategy that aims to promote the harbour also as a leisure amenity. Cork’s superb natural harbour is a great place to enjoy all types of marine leisure pursuits. With lots of sailing and rowing clubs dotted throughout the harbour, excellent fishing and picturesque harbour-side paths for walking, running or cycling, there is something for everyone to enjoy in and around Cork harbour. The Port is actively involved with the promotion of Cork Harbour's annual Festival. The oldest sailing club in the world, founded in 1720, is the Royal Cork Yacht Club is located at Crosshaven in the harbour, proof positive, says the Port, that the people of Cork, and its visitors, have been enjoying this vast natural leisure resource for centuries. 

Port of Cork Executives

  • Chairman: John Mullins
  • Chief Executive: Brendan Keating
  • Secretary/Chief Finance Officer: Donal Crowley
  • Harbour Master and Chief Operations Officer: Capt. Paul O'Regan
  • Port Engineering Manager: Henry Kingston
  • Chief Commercial Officer: Conor Mowlds
  • Head of Human Resources: Peter O'Shaughnessy