Dublin Port’s new €127 million freight terminal launched
Dublin Port Company (DPC) has announced the opening of T4, a newly redeveloped RoRo freight terminal in the Port costing €127 million. Self-financed by DPC and delivered on time, and on budget, T4 marks a major milestone in the delivery of the ABR Project, the first of three major capital development projects under its Masterplan to future-proof Dublin Port’s cargo handling capacity to 2040.
T4 will handle more than 220,000 RoRo units annually, which equates to over one-fifth of all RoRo units at Dublin Port based on 2022 volumes and more RoRo freight per annum than any other port in the Republic of Ireland.
T4’s capacity comes from 4.1ha of existing port lands having been reconfigured, creating more efficient space for handling European and UK unaccompanied RoRo units. It comes into operation at a time of growing demand for unaccompanied RoRo freight services (goods on trailers transported by ferry without a driver) to and from the greater Dublin market post-Brexit.
It has also enabled the opening of a new transhipment route to Santander.
Modern port infrastructure for next generation ferries
T4 brings into operation 3 km of new quay walls, upgrading Victorian-era port infrastructure to service direct routes between Dublin and Liverpool/Heysham by ferry operator Seatruck. The work also involved the demolition of an old jetty, replaced with two best in class modern jetties of 270 m each, that will accommodate the largest ferries measuring 240 m in length and which have been future-proofed to allow for shore to ship power in the years ahead.
Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company, said: “Dublin is already one of the most efficient ports in Europe. With T4, we are driving even more efficiencies and facilitating growing customer demand for direct shipping routes between Dublin, the UK and Europe. Even with T4 now fully in operation, Dublin is running at 91% average capacity and therefore it is imperative that our plans to complete all three of our Masterplan 2040 projects continue as planned.
“This will ensure we create the capacity needed to support the ongoing growth in the economy to 2040, while providing new public amenities that will support the growth of our city and neighbouring community for decades to come.”
Opening up the Port
Importantly the development of T4 has also facilitated the closure of an entrance onto East Wall Road paving the way for DPC’s Liffey Tolka Greenway project on East Wall Road to commence construction in 2024. This will see the transformation of the East Wall Road with a new dedicated 1.4km cycle and pedestrian route which will eventually form part of the 16.5 km of cycleway / walkway planned as part of the overall Masterplan.
The Minister of State, Jack Chambers, TD, who officially launched T4, commented: “Dublin Port is Ireland’s largest freight and passenger port handling approximately 51% of national tonnage. Its importance is even more pronounced in the unitised freight sector as it handles 71% of all Load-on/Load-off and 80% of all Roll-on/Roll-off tonnage in and out of the country.
“In line with its Masterplan, Dublin Port has been progressing the necessary infrastructure to provide for increases in throughput. T4 will greatly enhance Roll-on/Roll-off capabilities at the Port. As an island nation, sufficient capacity and the efficient and seamless operation of our ports are indispensable for the success of Ireland’s importers and exporters.”
