Port of Cork plans moving all cruise ship traffic to Cobh

The Port of Cork is contemplating moving all cruise liner traffic docking in Cork into a new berth in Cobh and utilising the rail connection there to offer passengers more shore excursions around the city and county.

Port chairman John Mullins said at present if two cruise ships dock in Cork at the same time one of them has to berth in Ringaskiddy, which doesn’t have a rail link. He said yesterday, as the last cruise liner of the season docked in Cork, that Ringaskiddy was becoming busier in terms of container business and it made sense to plan for an enlargement of the deep water quay in Cobh to ensure it could take two liners at a time.

“Ringaskiddy is not ideal for cruise ships and it is critical to get passengers in and out of areas quickly for shore excursions,” said Mr Mullins, adding that port officials were working closely with Irish Rail and Cork City Council to offer tailor-made all-inclusive excursions in the years ahead.