Latest news with #BelfastHarbour
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Could this self-driving Belfast bus soon be taking you to work or the airport?
The Harlander is planned to operate 12 hours a day, carrying up to nine passengers at a time on a route around Belfast's Titanic Quarter. Belfast Harbour hopes to expand these routes in coming years, connecting to the airport and potentially connecting other areas of Northern Ireland to more mainstream public transport. The driverless shuttle is currently completing safety testing, but can already be seen doing practice runs around roads in the area. Belfast Harbour plans the Harlander to run a 15-20 route, on a timetable aligned to the arrival of trains at Titanic Halt station. The timetable currently has approximate running hours from 6:30am to 6:30/7:00pm. The shuttle will initially run with safety attendants sitting at the driver's seat, however Belfast Harbour aims to eventually run it with no direct human input at all. Mike Dawson, 53, the people and digital transformation director at Belfast Harbour, says 'the purpose of the bus is to create last mile connectivity between the Titanic halt and initially, the Catalyst building. 'Then we have a loop of about four stops on the estate that it will stop on initially, to get a model and a blueprint that's viable for other services.' Mr Dawson says there are several goals for the current testing phase: 'What we'd like to do is have this run, learn from it, particularly the passenger experience and customer experience. 'What does that look like? What does that feel like? What needs to be tweaked, improved? How do you make sure there are no barriers to entry for people to be able to get on and access it?' Self-driving vehicles can be an unnerving technology for some, but Mr Dawson wants the shuttle to become 'reassuringly boring, that you're just getting transported from point A to point B.' He says the advantage is 'cost, more than anything else.' 'Translink run a great service, the Glider, up and down. But when we looked at it, we wanted more people to potentially use the train. 'You've got that 1.3 miles, how do you get people to do that? If the weather's atrocious, you're putting people off. How can we incentivise people to have a seamless experience: you get on the train, you get on the Harlander, [it] takes you to Catalyst, you're at your place of work.' The shuttle has been designed in partnership with several other companies including eVersum, Oxa, Angoka, BT and Horiba Mira. eVersum is an Austrian company which develops electric buses, and they created a right-hand drive model specifically for the Harlander. The self-driving technology comes from Oxa, who Mr Dawson describes as 'world-class in this space'. Safety testing has been carried out by Coventry-based firm Horiba Mira who have 'tested to death' the vehicles. 'They have a model of the Harbour estate on their land, they've run this model for months and months and months. 'We're going to do the same here, we've been doing it for the last few weeks, we're going to do it for another three to four. We're very confident it does what it needs to do. But, fundamentally, you still have a driver's seat there, you still have a steering wheel, you still have the ability to intervene should it be necessary.' While there will be safety attendants sitting in the driver's seat at first, Mr Dawson says 'the truth is, it will largely run in autonomous mode.' There are plans to get the Hardlander to a 'level four' self-driving vehicle, where 'there is no safety attendant, there is no driver.' Mr Dawson said he 'would like to see' an expansion of self-driving transport across Belfast and Northern Ireland. 'We would like to see more of these, where you can create connectivity on the estate itself. 'We see this as a much bigger play regionally, not just for Northern Ireland, but also for GB, where you can get connectivity to those main routes. Imagine you had estates in the city where you had these types of routes feeding the Glider route. 'It doesn't replace bus drivers, it augments what we have in place today.' Joe O'Neill, chief executive of Belfast Harbour, says the Harlander is a vital cog in its five-year strategy' and wants better connectivity 'with some of our other services, like Cruise, bringing passengers into the city. 'Connectivity to the airport is an important one as well, how we can work with the Belfast City Airport,' he added.
Forbes
04-05-2025
- Forbes
Not Forgetting The Past, Belfast Cruise Port Now Welcomes The World
Belfast City Hall is a landmark building in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It may not be the first city that springs to mind when you think of a cruise , but guests visiting Belfast cruise port are in for a rich and rewarding experience. Many cruise visitors use Belfast as a gateway to the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's famous natural wonder. While the scenic coastal route is stunning, the full excursion requires several hours of driving and a fair amount of walking. For those who prefer to stay closer to the ship, Belfast itself offers more than enough to fill a memorable day ashore. With its grand public buildings, dynamic arts scene, and a history that is both proud and painful, Northern Ireland's capital offers far more than meets the eye. Whether you're drawn to the story of the Titanic, intrigued by the legacy of The Troubles, or simply want to soak up the buzz of a city rapidly reinventing itself, Belfast delivers one of the most thought-provoking port days in the British Isles. While Belfast may not yet rival Europe's busiest cruise hubs, it's quickly gaining momentum as a port of call. According to Belfast Harbour, the city is set to welcome nearly 150 cruise ship visits in 2025, representing 31 different cruise lines. Ten ships are scheduled to call at Belfast for the first time, and Ambassador Cruise Line will begin eight roundtrip itineraries from the port. Belfast frequently appears on British Isles cruises but also serves as a compelling stopover on longer itineraries to and from Iceland, with departures from ports such as Southampton, Amsterdam, and beyond. One downside is the port's location, which sits several miles from both the Titanic Quarter and central Belfast. This means cruise visitors will need to rely on shuttle buses, taxis, or sightseeing tours to reach the city's main attractions. No visit to Belfast is complete without a stop at Titanic Belfast, the city's flagship attraction built on the very site where the ill-fated ocean liner was designed, constructed, and launched. Titanic Belfast is one of Northern Ireland's most popular attractions. This award-winning museum is housed in a striking, angular building that mirrors the scale and shape of Titanic's prow—an architectural landmark in its own right. Inside, nine immersive galleries guide visitors through Belfast's shipbuilding heritage, the grandeur of Titanic's interiors, and the events leading up to the disaster, as well as the legacy that followed. Rather than simply displaying information boards and artifacts in glass cases, the museum offers an immersive experience featuring interactive exhibits, digital reconstructions, and even an amusement park-style ride through a recreated shipyard. It's a powerful, often emotional experience that blends industrial ambition with personal tragedy. Despite the somber subject matter, cruise ship visitors shouldn't hesitate to make the museum a priority. In fact, the final galleries, which explore the Titanic's legacy and the maritime safety improvements that followed, offer a valuable sense of perspective and progress. Cruise visitors should allow at least two hours to explore the museum, and ideally extra time to visit the adjacent SS Nomadic, a restored White Star Line tender ship included in the admission price. At the heart of this is 'The Troubles'—a decades-long conflict that, from the late 1960s to the late 1990s, brought violence and deep division to Northern Ireland, and beyond. The conflict was rooted in political and national identity, primarily between two communities: unionists, mostly Protestant, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and nationalists, mostly Catholic, who sought reunification with the Republic of Ireland. Sightseeing bus tours of Belfast include the 'peace walls' and detailed commentary about the conflict known as 'The Troubles'. More than 3,500 people lost their lives in a conflict that touched nearly every part of life in Belfast. While peace has largely held since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the legacy of The Troubles remains visible and deeply personal. For visitors, understanding this context in advance helps make sense of the powerful stories found in its streets and public spaces. Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses are often easy to dismiss as overpriced or inefficient, especially in compact cities. But in Belfast, they're genuinely worth considering, particularly for first-time visitors with limited time ashore. The routes offer more than just a quick overview of the city's landmarks; they provide crucial context for Belfast's complex political and cultural history. Tours include guided narration that explains the legacy of 'The Troubles', taking visitors through the city's most divided neighborhoods. The drive along the Falls Road and Shankill Road reveals a living history of murals, memorial gardens, and peace walls; sites that are powerful, sobering, and deeply informative. It's an experience that's hard to replicate on foot without local insight. The tours also include stops at key attractions like Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall, and Crumlin Road Gaol, making them a convenient way to get around while learning about the city's layered identity. Keep in mind that several companies operate sightseeing tours in Belfast, and tickets are not always interchangeable. It's worth checking the route and schedules carefully before buying. In central Belfast, grand public buildings like Belfast City Hall showcase the city's Victorian confidence and are well worth a closer look. Belfast City Hall is a striking landmark in central Belfast. Nearby, the Linen Quarter and Cathedral Quarter are buzzing with cafes, street art, and pubs, blending the old and new, and British and Irish culture, with surprising ease. For those interested in history and architecture, Crumlin Road Gaol offers a guided tour through a former Victorian prison that operated for over 150 years. Alternatively, the Queen's University grounds, Ulster Museum and adjoining Botanic Gardens provide a quieter, more reflective experience and are easily reached from the city center. If time allows, simply walking the streets of central Belfast reveals the city's many contrasts, from regeneration to remembrance, and a creative spirit that continues to define this evolving capital.
ITV News
29-04-2025
- Business
- ITV News
New cruise terminal facility as part of £90m investment at Belfast Harbour
Work is due to begin this week on Belfast Harbour's largest ever port investment project. The £90m scheme will see the development of a new deep-water terminal to facilitate increased cruise tourism, and enable offshore wind energy. Belfast is already the busiest cruise port on the island and second busiest in the UK. It's hoped the investment will futureproof it as a leading city for cruise tourism. 'A key objective of this signature investment by Belfast Harbour is to attract more turnaround cruise calls to Belfast," said Joe O'Neill, Chief Executive of the harbour. "This means that as one set of passengers disembarks, another set embarks on the same day. "This will have a multiplier effect on visitor numbers, increasing associated bed nights while growing the positive economic impact for the region. 'The plan from 2030 is to utilise the facility to support offshore wind development as well as cruise. "As offshore wind technology evolves, ports will play an increasingly central role and Belfast Harbour is uniquely placed, through this investment, through our existing facility, our expertise, local supply chain and location to be a key enabler of the power stations of the future in the Irish, Celtic and North Seas.' Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive of Visit Belfast, said: 'Cruise tourism is essential for driving economic growth in Belfast and the surrounding region. The significant contribution it makes is highlighted in Visit Belfast's New Horizons Tourism Strategy and the Department for the Economy's new Tourism Action Plan. 'In collaboration with our strategic partner Belfast Harbour we are dedicated to positioning the city as a premier cruise destination while minimising the environmental impact. "The development of the new deep-water quay will not only attract new cruise business but also greatly enhance the experience for visitors to our city, all while supporting Belfast's sustainability ambitions commitment to environmentally responsible practices. "This investment marks a pivotal milestone in the realisation of this transformative project."
Belfast Telegraph
29-04-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
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.'
Belfast Telegraph
29-04-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Contractor announced for £90m Belfast Harbour deepwater quay
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.'
