Rival ports under threat by terminal development

A NEW €226 million container terminal in Co Cork could affect the economic viability of ports in Waterford and Dublin, and result in traffic gridlock and more deaths on the roads.

These claims were made at a Bord Pleanála oral hearing yesterday by experts employed by the Port of Waterford, which is objecting to the Port of Cork’s plans to build a massive container terminal at the Oyster Bank, Ringaskiddy.

Andrew Thurley, a director of economics at PricewaterhouseCoopers, claimed the Ringaskiddy terminal’s large scale and planned capacity posed significant risks to other ports and could have “adverse socio-economic implications” on these ports’ hinterlands.