Contractor announced for £90m development aimed at boosting Belfast tourism
The dual purpose deepwater quay will mean more turnaround cruise calls can come to Belfast, so that as one set of passengers get off, another set can set off on the open seas on the same day.
It's the harbour's biggest single capital investment project yet, with the quay able to accommodate some of the world's largest cruise vessels. It will also expand the port's capacity for offshore wind turbine assembly and installation.
Civil engineering contractor Graham Construction has been announced as the main contractor for the initial phase of the build.
Stage one is expected to be ready for the 2028 cruise season while stage two is anticipated by 2030 to strengthen the infrastructure for offshore turbines.
The harbour said that with 146 cruise vessels due this year, it was already the busiest cruise port on the island of Ireland, and the second-busiest in the UK.
It said the deepwater quay would futureproof its status for cruise tourism and enable the £25m industry to grow even further.
When the new quay is ready, the existing cruise hub will revert to its original use as a full-time facility for offshore wind.
Dr Theresa Donaldson, chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, said: 'Having announced our ambitious new advance regional prosperity strategy only a few months ago, it is exciting to be partnering with Graham to commence work on the single biggest investment project in Belfast Harbour's history.
'As a trust port, our primary responsibility is to maintain and develop the port for the good of everyone in the region, and this project delivers on that mission.
'It will help us to attract more turnaround cruise calls to Belfast, boosting the economic contribution of cruise tourism, while also providing a pathway to our longer-term ambitions of facilitating the construction of the next generation of floating offshore wind farms.'
Joe O'Neill, chief executive of Belfast Harbour, said: 'This will have a multiplier effect on visitor numbers.
'As offshore wind technology evolves Belfast Harbour is uniquely placed to be a key enabler of the power stations of the future in the Irish, Celtic and North Seas.'
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