Ongoing closure of Holyhead Port causing challenges for Cork businesses 

A Cork business owner has spoken of the challenges caused by the ongoing closure of Holyhead Port which will not reopen until January 15 at the earliest.

Damage done to the port during Storm Darragh has resulted in the closure of the port and ferry services which will likely result in Christmas parcels travelling to and from Ireland being delayed until after the festive season.

It will also leave thousands of people who were planning to travel through the port to Ireland for Christmas having to scramble for alternative transport.

Cork businesses are waiting for stock that is stuck in trailers at the port, as president of Cork Chamber and owner of Velo Coffee, Rob Horgan, highlighted.

“Just today [Tuesday] our first van came back from the UK with stock.

“Before that we were getting twice daily updates but none involving moving,” he told The Echo.

Mr Horgan added: “Members of my team went in vans this weekend and had a horrific journey, including getting delayed in customs in Rosslare.

The first van returned just before lunchtime yesterday, “but he left Cork on Sunday”, Mr Horgan said.

“He drove non stop, checked into a hotel for four hours — that’s what we have to do to look after our customers.

“The biggest challenge for everyone is the lack of clarity — people are already under pressure at Christmas for various reasons,” Mr Horgan said.

“This added strain is not needed.” 

The ferry company Stena Line, which owns the Port of Holyhead, said damage caused by Storm Darragh earlier this month is still being assessed and that it has taken the decision to keep the ferry berths closed until January 15 to “provide certainty” for passengers, freight customers and ferry operators.

It said that this was to allow people to make alternative arrangements ahead of the busiest time of the year.

In a statement, a spokesman for Stena Line said: “Stena Line has been working hard to provide alternative travel arrangements for customers during the busy festive period” adding that a new freight route from Dublin to Heysham “has been added to assist continuity of trade flows”.

A statement from the Department of Transport said:

“Where there is spare capacity in other ferry ports, these will be used as Stena has outlined.

“The ferry companies have redeployed their vessels to other ports and will help passengers booked on Holyhead crossings.

“The ferry companies are reaching out to their passengers and we would encourage passengers who were planning to use Holyhead to check the relevant ferry company’s website for details of the alternatives.”