New Northern Ireland Protocol Deal May See Lorry Traffic Rise Back to Ports in Republic, says Rosslare Europort

1st March 2023

Port managers at Rosslare Europort and Dublin Port have said Brexit had led to a dramatic increase in freight volumes on direct EU routes as traders avoid new border controls with Britain. Above ferries berthed in Co. Wexford where the port has two routes linking the UK (Wales) and four routes directly connecting to mainland Europe. Credit: Rosslare Europort-twitter

Following the Windsor Framework deal, new checks in Northern Ireland’s ports involving green and red lanes, may lead lorry freight traffic to be redirected back to ports within the Republic, has said the manager of Rosslare Europort.

The director of the Wexford ferryport, Glenn Carr told an Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs on Wednesday that it awaited the “good news” of Monday’s announced Windsor Framework deal.

The deal agreed between the UK and EU removes some checks at the ports in Northern Ireland. As for red-lane checks on EU-bound goods arriving from Britain, Mr Carr highlighted that he could see freight diverted back to ports in the south.

“More of an alignment with what happens with green line and red line in Dublin and Rosslare will now emerge with the protocol so that might bring some traffic back down,” said Mr Carr.

The Irish Times has more comments from the director at the port operated by Irish Rail /Iarnród Éireann. In addition to those of Barry O’Connell, the chief executive of Dublin Port Company who was appointed in recent months.

Published in Rosslare Europort

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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