Brexit, Covid-19 and the situation of seafarers who have been unable to take their leave since the pandemic hit – these are just some of the challenges facing harbourmasters in ports around the island.

Cork harbour, which is being transformed with a new all-tide container terminal at Ringaskiddy and a linking motorway, is handling more direct Ireland-France ferry links with three new weekly freight-only sailings by Brittany Ferries.

Covid-19 has hit tourist traffic, but Cork is handling new freight routes including a weekly service to Zeebrugge.

Two new Liebherr post-Panamax size ship-to-shore (STS) container gantry cranes make an impressive sight cutting the Cork Harbour skyline at the Cork Container Terminal (CCT) in the Republic of Ireland. Port of Cork took delivery of the gantry cranes at the terminal in February last year. The cranes improve liners’ schedule reliability and reduce trade costs and inventory holding outlays for shippers

Last year, Independent Container Line (ICL) introduced a new weekly direct service from Cork to North America - providing Ireland with its first direct container service to the US in many years.

The new direct cargo service to the US east coast from Port Of Cork Independent Vision first arrived at the Port last June Photo: Port of Cork/Twitter

A recent report - entitled Cork Harbour 2025: Ready to Float - calls for Cork to be earmarked as a renewable energy service hub for the Celtic Sea.

"Plans for the extension of the deepwater berth in Ringaskiddy could add significant capacity to the capabilities on offer in Cork harbour in support of the nascent floating wind boom in the Celtic Sea,” the report by Cork and Cobh chambers of commerce and a number of companies in the renewable energy sector states.

Progress continues on the development of the new Port of Cork terminal with the two new Liebherr post-Panamax size ship-to-shore (STS) container gantry cranes (left) and Pont Aven ferry in berth (right) Photo: Bob Bateman

Port of Cork harbourmaster Capt Paul O’Regan spoke to Wavelengths in the first of an occasional series on ports, and you can hear him below