Port tourism numbers up 18%

FERRY passenger numbers through Dublin increased by 18% in 2009 and are likely to rise further in 2010, according to the Dublin Port Company.

However, while the tourism numbers were the strongest element of the port’s business last year — and ahead of expectations — freight business, which makes up nearly 80% of total Dublin Port business, was down by 10.5%.

Management pointed out yesterday that total throughput is only down by 14% on the levels seen in 2007 and they had expected a full 14% fall in trade levels last year.

The company will formally publish its full-year accounts for 2009 in March.

The company also confirmed that a permanent replacement for outgoing chief executive Enda Connellan should be in place in the next few months.

Mr Connellan announced his retirement — after 32 years service and 16 years as chief executive — before Christmas and is currently fulfilling the role on a short-term contract basis until his successor is identified.

Commenting on the trade figures, Mr Connellan said: “It’s encouraging to see that trade levels have stabilised over a number of months, in what has been a very challenging year for Ireland’s economy. We’re still handling four-to-five times the level of trade than we did 15 years ago.”

Monthly throughput at Dublin Port remained steady at around 2.2 million tonnes and that level of activity is likely to continue.

“Our outlook for the first half of 2010 is that trade levels will continue to stabilise at around 2.2m tonnes per month. Any significant increase in throughput in the second half of the year will be dependent on a number of factors, including improved consumer sentiment for imports and the strength of the euro against sterling,” added Dublin Port Company chief financial officer Michael Sheary.

Mr Sheary added that the annual dividend paid by the company to its sole shareholder — the Government — will likely continue to increase marginally this year, too. Last year, a dividend of €5.3m was paid to the State and Mr Sheary said that it was likely to be in excess of that this year.