Latest news with #JoeO'Neill
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.'
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major harbor announces over $120 million investment in new floating project: 'There's a superb market opportunity'
Clean energy is coming to a major U.K. harbor. Belfast Harbour just announced its plan to invest £90 million toward upgrades supporting wind energy projects, the Guardian reported. The largest part of the investment plan is a new deepwater quay. When complete, it will have the capacity to support the proposed wind projects. Thanks to the new investment plan, chief executive of Belfast Harbour Joe O'Neill told the Guardian he expects wind turbines will return to the city in late 2027 or early 2028. Thirty offshore wind farms are planned to pop up within a 125-mile range of Belfast with a projected capacity of more than 30 gigawatts. That's enough energy to power 20 million homes, the Guardian estimates. Would you want EV-charging roads installed in your town? Sign me up Depends how much it costs No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While the recently announced investment plans focuses on projects with standard fixed wind turbines, O'Neill told the Guardian he was "excited by the prospect of floating offshore projects." The clean energy produced by the wind energy projects will help cut down on the area's pollution while revitalizing the city. The harbor has a history of supporting the city's economy, pumping both jobs and revenue into the area, notably as the site where the Titanic was built, starting in 1909. However, despite the harbor's significant role in handling Northern Ireland's seaborne freights, the city's economy has moved toward other services. The new investment plan, however, is also expected to not only supply clean energy to the area but also build thousands of new homes surrounding the city. "The sector fell into a little bit of abeyance because there were no new projects," O'Neill told the Guardian. "There are a number of sites coming forward for the Irish Sea and the Republic of Ireland government. There's a superb market opportunity." As more cities continue to invest in renewable energy, countries can significantly reduce their environmental footprint, creating new jobs and keeping the planet cool. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
