Port of Waterford opposes Cork’s €100m expansion

The Port of Waterford is to seek a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for the €100m expansion of the Port of Cork.

Fears were expressed last night that the move could delay the Ringaskiddy Port Redevelopment by several months.

The Port of Waterford refused to comment on the reasons for its decision to seek the judicial review.

Port of Cork chief executive Brendan Keating said they are “extremely disappointed” with the move.

“However, we are hopeful that there will be an early determination on the issue and we will be allowed to proceed with this vital port infrastructure which will be of significant benefit to the Irish economy,” he said.

The Tier 1 Port of Cork unveiled plans for the expansion in April 2014 and lodged an application – a scaled-back version of a previous plan which was refused planning in 2008 – with Bord Pleanála under the strategic infrastructure process.

The project includes a new 314m container and multipurpose berth to the north of the existing ferry berth in Ringaskiddy, a new 200m container berth close to it, and a 182m extension to the existing deepwater berth.

The board held an oral hearing into the project last September and gave the project the green light in May.

The port subsequently secured some €12.7m in EU funding to improve connectivity across the EU for the expansion. It was hoped construction would start in June 2016.

But the Port of Cork was told yesterday the Port of Waterford is to seek a judicial review of the planning decision.

Trade promotion Minister Sean Sherlock said he was perplexed by the decision and warned that any delay in the project could potentially damage the economy.

“They are potentially doing a disservice to the recovering national economy which depends heavily on port activity,” he said. “I would also question the motives in taking this review given that this project has gone through a rigorous planning process.”

“There may be a commercial consideration at play here in seeking to delay or block the decision of the Bord. If that is the case, perhaps Waterford port would clarify their reasons for seeking this review.”

During the oral hearing, Waterford, a Tier 2 port, argued that other ports should be considered for expansion given that Foynes, and in particular Waterford, which has rail access, is operating under-capacity.

They argued that the Port of Cork expansion was premature pending the upgrade of road infrastructure in the area.

The Port of Cork has invested over €72m in infrastructure since 2000. Any delays in the development of new deep water container berthing facilities to address the ongoing trend towards larger container vessels would place the port at an operational and competitive disadvantage due to the current physical constraints experienced at Tivoli container terminal.