Within the last fortnight there has been a whirlwind of activity at Rosslare Europort, Co. Wexford, writes the Irish Independent, as the latest step in the redevelopment of the ferry port was launched.
As Afloat previously reported, a new Customs and Border Control complex was officially opened at the Irish Rail-operated port on 7 November by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform, and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, and the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin Moran.
The new facility cost €230 million and covers passengers, freight, live animals, and food; the complex is a large-scale border operation with ferries linking the UK and mainland Europe through ports in France and Spain.
According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), in between arrivals and departures, Rosslare Europort had 243,302 passenger cars, motorcycles, and accompanying trailers/caravans in 2024, and an additional 2,425 buses. Some 218,200 freight vehicles and trailers passed through the strategically located port, which is the nearest to mainland Europe, during the year.
The previous border inspection facilities used to cater for the rising demand but were no longer fit for purpose, and they were located at a centre at Kilrane, 1.2 km outside of the port, which has ceased operations.
Taking its place is the new Terminal 7 project at Rosslare Europort, a massive capital infrastructure undertaking, with an investment of €230m. In recent years, the role of the ferry port has dramatically increased in importance as a gateway to mainland Europe, as the port allows importers and exporters to avoid bureaucratic hurdles and avoid the UK ‘land bridge’ when travelling to the continent in the wake of Brexit.
The newspaper has much more coverage of the opening ceremony of the facility that forms part of a complex operated by the Revenue Commissioners among them the larger buildings consist of B12 and B13 as seen in the above photograph.
As also reported by Afloat earlier this year, a visit to Rosslare was made by harbour masters from European ferryports of Dover, Portsmouth, Tyne (UK), St. Helier (Jersey), the Channel Islands, and Ystad in Sweden.
