Port of Cork well-placed to catch economic rising tides following 'transformative' year

FOLLOWING a “transformative and successful” year in 2023, the Port of Cork Company (PoCC) is looking ahead with optimism, keen to progress the initiatives set out in its masterplan for next year and beyond.

Despite strong economic headwinds, chief commercial officer Conor Mowlds told The Echo that there have been some huge successes across different port activities in 2023.

The year began with the announcement of a new, economical, state-of-the-art pilot vessel for the Port of Cork.

Cork-based boat builders Safehaven Marine were commissioned to design and manufacture the vessel which the port is set to take delivery of in spring 2024, Mr Mowlds said.

Further positive news followed in February when PoCC officially announced the establishment of a new shipping route by the MSC Shipping Group, connecting Cork to the prominent shipping hubs of Le Havre and Antwerp.

The new service commenced in March with container vessel MSC Nikoleta capable of transporting over 1,700 containers weekly.

In May, PoCC marked a significant milestone with the launch of its Port Masterplan 2050.

“This was undoubtedly one of our biggest highlights of the year,” Mr Mowlds said.

“The masterplan outlines the port’s ambitions and plans for the next three decades and includes plans to support the green energy sector as well as a roadmap outlining the port’s ‘River to Sea’ journey, consolidating all activities in the lower harbour by 2050.

“The plan identifies the potential future port traffic growth based on GDP and increased population, along with the key constraints and sustainable opportunities to meet customer requirements and the economic demands of the region.” 

Mr Mowlds said that as 90% of Ireland’s internationally traded goods by volume are transported by sea, port infrastructure plays a key role in facilitating economic growth.

The publication of the masterplan was, he said, a “monumental step forward towards the future of the Port of Cork”, adding that PoCC is looking forward to progressing these plans in 2024 and beyond.

Anniversary of launch of Cork Container Terminal 

The port also celebrated one year since the launch of Cork Container Terminal (CCT) in Ringaskiddy in September 2022.

In its inaugural year, over 90,000 containers were loaded and discharged onto a total of 340 ships docked at the deepwater facility.

“The launch of CCT was a hugely important milestone for the Port of Cork Company as it marked the culmination of years of significant planning, investment and development in this vital facility to ensure the port’s ongoing competitiveness,” Mr Mowlds said.

And while the year brought many successes, 2023 was not without its challenges.

Among them were global supply chain issues and inflation - the latter of which Mr Mowlds said has placed a downward pressure on Irish consumption which has affected port volumes.

“Despite this decline, port traffic still remains above pre-pandemic levels despite the strong economic headwinds,” he said.

Post Brexit, Mr Mowlds highlighted the need for a Border Control Inspection Post (BCIP) at Port of Cork.

“The Port of Cork does not have a BCIP, which goods of non-EU origin must pass through when being imported into the EU.

“A BCIP would increase overall efficiency of operations and reduce the carbon impact of trade at the Port of Cork,” he explained.

“The Company made an application to the Department of Agriculture for the establishment of a Border Control Inspection Post in Cork which will increase overall transport efficiency of operations by circa €1m per annum and reduce the CO2 pollutant impact of trade by an estimated 166 tonnes per annum.” 

Cruise traffic 

Looking ahead to the new year, one area set to see a significant boost is cruise traffic.

“The cruise industry continues to contribute a major part of the success of the Irish tourism and hospitality sectors,” Mr Mowlds said.

“This year, we have had a 16% increase in the number of cruise liners docking in Cork, with nine ships making their maiden call.

“As a result, we welcomed an additional 60,000 passengers compared to 2022.

“In 2024, we expect this number to grow even further with 117 cruise liners currently scheduled to arrive in the Port of Cork.” 

Improved sustainability is also a key focus moving into 2024 and the years ahead.

“The port is committed to a sustainability journey and has developed a Climate Action Roadmap in line with the Government’s Climate Action Plan, which outlines our strategies to reach NetZero by 2050.

“We have made strides towards decarbonising our port through transitioning to electric vehicles and are looking to trial HVO biofuel to power our fleet of pilot boats and straddle carriers, which will offer an up to a 90% reduction in emissions compared to conventional diesel,” Mr Mowlds explained.

“We have also began exploring onshore power supply for when hybrid ships come on stream in the future.

“The PoCC has been active in business development and networking activity in the ORE sector (wind and hydrogen) with attendance at various networking events, conferences and direct engagements with funders to develop our port to facilitate the growth of this vital industry.” 

Progress on M28

Mr Mowlds also welcomed continued progress on the M28, the new motorway which will link Ringaskiddy with Rochestown, which the port has previously described as integral to realising its future ambitions.

Cork County Council recently confirmed the appointment of Jacobs Engineering Ireland Ltd as the technical advisors for the project, which forms part of the Core Trans‐European Transport Network.

The €16m contract, funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, will see Jacobs Engineering Ireland oversee the implementation of Phase 5, completion of tender documentation and procurement of the works, Phase 6 Construction and Implementation of the main contract and Phase 7 Project Closeout and Review.

“We are pleased to see progress on the delivery of the M28 motorway project with the signing of a €16 million contract,” Mr Mowlds said.

“An improved, fit-for-purpose road network is much needed for enhanced connectivity to support traffic volumes and local industries.

“The delivery of the M28 upgrade is also critical to enabling the further relocation of the port’s activities from the city quays and Tivoli Docks to Ringaskiddy.” Speaking about the year ahead, Mr Mowlds said the Port of Cork Company is “optimistic about the positive impact of ongoing strategies and upcoming projects”.

“Key areas of focus include sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and maintaining Cork's connectivity in the global supply chain.

“Positive engagement with stakeholders and collaboration on the masterplan, which received overwhelmingly positive feedback, are integral to the port's vision for the future.”