Dublin Port announces busiest year

Dublin Port had its busiest 12 months ever in 2007 with further strong passenger and trade figures expected this year despite the choppy economic waters.

More than 30 million tons were handled by the port for the first time, up 6% on 2006, while ferry passengers jumped 12% to 1.3 million, according to the Dublin Port Company.

The body made a profit of almost €29m up 7% on 2006 and said it expected to see a similar level of trade this year with 80 planned cruise ship visits.

Enda Connellan, chief executive of Dublin Port Company, said: “The Port handled over 30 million tons in 2007, the fifteenth consecutive year of growth in throughput.

“Dublin Port is the port of choice for Ireland’s importers and exporters.

“Over 80% of imports arriving at Dublin Port are consumer goods, destined for retail outlets in the city and surrounding areas.”

In the first six months of this year more than 121,000 tourist cars were recorded passing through the port, up almost 6% on the same period last year.

But the volume of goods being handled in the first six months was down slightly by almost 1%.

The number of travellers to Ireland arriving by ferry jumped 0.3% to hit 589,033, while passengers increased 12% last year.

The surge in travellers is in stark contrast to the years of decline experienced by the ferry sector which is now facing a turnaround in fortunes, according to the Dublin Port Company .

The organisation said trade at the port surpassed the 30 million ton mark for the first time in 2007 and despite the global credit crunch is expected to handle a similar number this year.

Mr Connellan said the body would be putting a planning application to An Bord Pleanala later this year to expand the port.

“As Ireland’s premier port, notwithstanding the current economic slowdown, we will keep planning for growth in the medium and long-term to ensure that we can continue to facilitate trade when the upturn in the economy arrives,” he said.

“In this regard we will be submitting a planning application to An Bord Pleanala in the autumn to provide additional capacity at Dublin Port.”