Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Rosslare Europort in County Wexford has been named European Ferry Port of the year at the 2023 European Ferry Shipping Summit in Malmo, Sweden. It is the first time the award has been won by an Irish port, and it follows a transformational period in the port’s development, with a more than six-fold increase in direct European sailings since Brexit, and record freight and passenger volumes being recorded.

Rosslare Europort was the only port in Ireland to record growth in the first six months of the 2023, on top of the record growth recorded over the previous two year period.  Direct European services have increased from six to 38 over the past three years, and now directly connect Rosslare with ports including Bilbao, Cherbourg, Dunkirk, Le Havre and Zeebrugge

The award also reflects the further ambitious plans underway at Rosslare Europort, with investment projects at the port comprise Port, OPW and road infrastructure developments including:

• Rosslare Europort Masterplan, including port digitalisation: These works will reflect its status as Ireland’s Gateway to Europe and will include new freight and passenger facilities, storage, export and import facilities, berth extension. Matching the port’s physical transformation, a digitalisation of systems and operations is also planned which will deliver a better, more effective and more efficient Port, to become Ireland’s most advanced digitalised port
• Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub development, including an ORE purpose-built quay and berth, ORE quayside storage and pre-construction/up to 50 acres in area, navigable channel dredged down to a minimum of 9 metres depth, and management Control Centre & management offices and facilities
• Office of Public Works Project T7, to develop a permanent Border Control Post within the port, to provide the facilities and systems for all aspects of Border Control
• New TII N25 Rosslare Europort Access Road will ensure a better experience for port users and enhance quality of life for those living and working in the area by taking trucks out of the village and improving access and connectivity to the port.

In total, these developments will see a total of €350 million invested in the port and its environs.

Glenn Carr, Director Commercial Business Units with Iarnród Éireann – Port Authority for Rosslare Europort, said: “This award is wonderful recognition for our team at Rosslare Europort who have transformed the port’s fortunes in recent years.  That team of course comprises our team of over 100 Rosslare Europort colleagues, but also our shipping customers, our service providers, the Irish logistics and haulage industries, and the crucial State agencies at the port. Our success has been built on a partnership approach, one that we will continue to apply as our ambitious expansion plans are delivered.”