Rate of decline in number of ships docking slows

The number of ships docking at ports around the country continued to fall in the first half of the year, new figures revealed today.

However, the latest figures from the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) revealed the rate of decline had eased.

The IMDO said that following a peak in traffic through Irish ports in 2007, a steady decline took place as the global downturn began.

In the first half of this year, lift-on/lift-off traffic fell almost a quarter on the same period in 2008, fall off in consumer demand led to a 30% drop in the amount of container traffic importing goods, and roll on/roll off ferry traffic fell 13%, with 753,845 freight units handled at all Irish ports compared to 869,146 for the first half of 2008.

Howeverm it is believed the volume of traffic bottomed out in February this year with a 4% increase seen during May and June.