US security ‘paranoia’ sparks port costs hike

THE chief executive of shipping operations on the Shannon Estuary yesterday condemned highly expensive security measures being forced on Irish ports by the US government.

Brian Byrne, who heads the Shannon Foynes Port Company, which runs Foynes and Limerick port and four other installations on the estuary, accused the US of paranoia, such are the security demands.

He said: “At Foynes we have to put up an eight foot security fence around the port. This work is nearing completion and the fence runs for 1.5 kilometres, costing us €1.5 million.”

Security cameras and infra-red heat seeking systems have also had to be installed along the fencing.

Mr Byrne said: “We have to have 24/7 security personnel present to monitor the security camera screens in a control centre. This ongoing security operation will cost us more than €300,000 a year to maintain.”

He said the new security regime has been drawn up by the US Department of Homeland Security for all Irish ports doing business with US ports.

Mr Byrne said: “It is absurd for a port like ours to have to go to all these lengths to keep people fenced in. But we had little choice as if we did not comply we would be blacklisted.”

He said Shannon Estuary does a considerable amount of bulk cargo business with US ports.

Mr Byrne said: “These new security measures are driven by US paranoia. For a port like Amsterdam, I could understand it, but for the Shannon Estuary it is a complete overkill.”

He said they have managed not to pass on the costs to port users, but the new security costs have come at a time when they are trying to deal with a €12m pension deficit and an overall debt of €20m.

“This is a very significant bag of rocks to carry,” he said.

The new security, he said, had also been bad for local public relations.

He said: “Everybody walking into the pier area now must have a security clearance pass. Locals who like to go for a walk on to the jetty on a summer evening can no longer do this. Or the person who wanted to cast out a fishing line is also out.”

Shannon Foynes Port Company has embarked on a €100m investment plan to improve shipping facilities in the Shannon Estuary.

The company has offered expressions of interest from the property market for nearly 70 acres it controls at Limerick docks to finance their development plan.

The company wants to transfer shipping operation from Limerick to Foynes.

Port users have voiced strong opposition to any closure of Limerick docks.