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Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Watersports campus, navy berths, windfarm supports and offices to be part of Dún Laoghaire harbour's future
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has signed a €1 million contract for the design and planning of a national watersports campus in Dún Laoghaire harbour. The contract is a big step forward in planning for the national watersports campus, which has been an aspiration since the Stena Line ferry service left the harbour in 2014. The contract also comes as discussions are under way with the developers of the proposed Dublin Array wind farm to site an operations base in the area. Meanwhile, the Quarterdeck shared offices complex in the former ferry terminal has been cleared for opening after several years of delays. READ MORE In addition, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council – which owns the harbour – is in discussions with the Naval Service over use of the Carlisle Pier as a key element of the force's east coast activities. While these projects are individually being progressed, a six–week public consultation on an overall master plan for the future of the harbour is to open June 16th. Members of the public and stakeholders will be invited to view a draft plan and share their views. The pre-draft consultation on the master plan last autumn received more than 1,000 formal submissions and 36 stakeholder meetings, resulting in an 'emerging vision,' the council said. The vision is of a vibrant area 'for water sports, marine industries, heritage tourism and community facilities, with a focus on accessibility, sustainability and economic growth', the council said. Almost 60 per cent of submissions received were in relation to water sports, 'reflecting the widely held interest in enhancing water sports access and infrastructure', the council said. Chief executive Frank Curran signed the design and planning contract for the national watersports campus with Ready Architecture + Urbanism Ltd in May. [ 'It's a stunning setting for any cafe, but this one has extra-special credentials' Opens in new window ] The campus is to also serve as the home for the national governing bodies of water sports organisations and an event venue. New facilities in the harbour for the watersports campus include a slipway, improved high-performance sailing facilities, a training and maintenance building in the Coal Harbour and improved launching facilities. The cost of the master plan is understood to be in the region of €1m and the project has been awarded €852,845 from the Department of Tourism and Sport 's Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. Last week the council revealed it was also in discussions with RWE, the developers of the proposed offshore Dublin Array Windfarm. RWE has lodged a planning application with An Bord Pleanála which includes a cable route, substation and operations and maintenance base for the wind farm. The council said it hoped there 'might be synergies with the ferry terminal project'. 'We are now working towards a lease agreement for the areas concerned,' the council said. [ Public innovation investment 'has not kept pace' with private sector, Ibec says Opens in new window ] The former Stena Line ferry terminal has been the subject of proposals for shared office spaces, going back several years. The project was delayed by the Covid pandemic and more recently over fire safety certification, but the ground-floor section of the co-working office space is now ready to open. The process of opening the first floor as co-working office space is under way and 'expected to be completed imminently' the council said. In a separate move, council executives have held meetings with Naval Service management in relation to the potential use of the Carlisle Pier. The pier is frequently visited by navy ships and the LE George Bernard Shaw has benefited from nine new fender installations which were set up in August 2023 to cater for larger ships. Initial discussions saw the Naval Service express a preference for exclusive access to the whole pier, and while this was not acceptable to the council, it said a section of the pier could be dedicated to the Naval Service 'at a cost'. 'The proposal and associated valuation for lease of the required section of the pier is currently being reviewed by the Naval Service,' the council said. Local Fianna Fáil TD Cormac Devlin – who as council Cathaoirleach in 2017 marked the bicentenary of the harbour in a ceremony with President Michael D Higgins – added more ambition to the plans. [ Ireland cannot protect its waters alone, UN expert says Opens in new window ] Mr Devlin said in addition to maintaining Dún Laoghaire as a key sailing hub, priorities should include restoring the storm-damaged sun shelter on the East Pier, and reopening the historic tea rooms at the West Pier. They were, he said, 'small but symbolic projects that should be advanced without delay'. A spokeswoman for the council said the draft master plan will set out 'a comprehensive and long-term vision for a 'living harbour', focusing on improving recreation, tourism, and economic vitality while also building climate resilience and increasing biodiversity'. She said, 'It includes proposed actions over short, medium, and long-term time frames and addresses key themes that emerged from the pre-draft phase, such as improved connectivity, waterfront access, and spaces for community and recreation.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
The battle over plans for Stranraer's former ferry terminal
Standing on top of the railway bridge near Stranraer station gives two very different views from the one side is the sweeping coastline of south west Scotland and a striking vista out across the the other is a sprawling industrial site left behind by Stena Line's decision to move operations a few miles up the coast about 14 years ago.A battle is now taking place over the fate of a slice of that land which is seen as central to further reviving Stranraer's fortunes. In one corner is haulage giant Manfreight which wants to turn the site - on a temporary basis - into a lorry said it could play a "critical role" in supporting the ferry route from Belfast to nearby Cairnryan while also helping the economic revival and regeneration of company said the area was a "cornerstone" of its operations which contributed about £7m-a-year to Stena Line and underpinned local jobs and added that it employed about 60 lorry drivers locally - generating more than £2.5m in wages and spending in the community, with hopes to double that workforce. "Our employees live locally - they support shops, schools, trades, and services," the firm added."We believe in growing with the community, not just operating in it."This is a quieter, cleaner, and safer use of the land than its historic port operations."It offers a way to unlock economic value now, while preparing Stranraer for the future." Romano Petrucci chairs the Stranraer Development Trust and fears the lorry park could undo a lot of the work his group and others have been said it would go against an ambitious place plan drawn up to develop the area to attract would include an expanded marina, a water sports hub which is currently under development and improved walking and cycling links."For us to kick-start this regeneration and try and build it, and expect people to come into the 210 new berths in their nice yachts and look on to a lorry park, is going to be a real challenge," said Mr Petrucci."We're 100% behind a lorry park but it cannot go there - it's the wrong place for it."He said the fear was that temporary approval would ultimately become permanent and effectively halt the wider plan for the waterfront. Janet Jones is project manager of Creative Stranraer, an arts organisation which is also part of the regeneration too said they did not want a lorry park planted on what had the potential to be "the most beautiful part" of the town."This is just crazy and any logical person would see the blight that that would have," she said."Not only that, it's a slap in the face of all the work and effort that lots of people are putting into this town with great passion."We can make this town so much better than it was when the ferries were in town, so long as we don't have a lorry park on our coast." The North West Castle Hotel looks out across the site and has also lodged an objection - mainly on the noise issue.A statement said it was uncertain about the number of vehicles using the facility, what the hours of operation would be and the impact of floodlit added that, given the bigger plans for the whole waterfront, it was hard to understand why the proposal was "even considered" in a residential area with a 20mph speed limit. David Hope-Jones represents hundreds of businesses as chief executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA).He said they had "huge concerns" over the impact of seeing "the beautiful waterfront turned into an industrial zone".According to John Fenwick, trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association, the proposal "flies in the face" of what local people have been trying to achieve."The siting of a lorry park in the very centre of the development, miles from Cairnryan and major roads shows a total disregard for all but the interests of the freight company," he added. It will be up to Dumfries and Galloway Council to decide if the lorry park can go development is being recommended for approval with a number of conditions, including the clean-up of the site once permission expires after three years.
BreakingNews.ie
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Thousands of Irish fans travel to Liverpool on ferry for title party
Irish supporters are set to travel to Liverpool in huge numbers this weekend for Premier League title celebrations. Stena Line said thousands of supporters have travelled on both the Dublin to Holyhead and Belfast to Liverpool routes. Advertisement Photo: Stena Line Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans will be in the city for an historic weekend which will see the Premier League trophy presented on Sunday at Anfield followed by an open top bus parade on Monday. Photo: Stena Line Arne Slot's side confirmed their title win a few weeks ago, but they will still be pushing for another win as they finish a successful season with a clash against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, kicking off at 4pm.
Irish Times
18-05-2025
- Irish Times
Hauliers seek to keep post-storm Holyhead ferry schedule after ‘transformative' impact on trade flow
Irish and British road hauliers have called on the Irish and Welsh authorities to keep changes to Holyhead's ferry schedule introduced in January after heavy storms damaged the Welsh port . 'Ironically, the new schedule has had a transformative and positive impact on the flow of trade between Holyhead and Dublin,' said the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Road Haulage Association UK. Instead of two ferries leaving 'at broadly the same time' from the Stena Line -owned port, there are now 'seven spaced sailings a day' leaving both Dublin and Holyhead, the two haulier organisations have told Ministers. However, Stena now wants to revert to the previous Holyhead ferry times, which would affect its own sailings and those of the other ferry company on the Dublin-Holyhead route, Irish Ferries , which it has power to do. READ MORE So far, the two haulage bodies have written to Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien, Minister for State for Transport Seán Canney and the Isle of Anglesey County Council asking to 'take such steps as may be required' to ensure the January schedules stay in force. A ramp needed to get trucks and cars on-board ferries was damaged in Holyhead when two ferries were forced into the structure by high winds during Storm Darragh. This led to the closure of the port for a month, causing major interruptions in Anglo-Irish trade. [ Holyhead Port closure hits imports to Ireland: 'Everyone is running around like headless chickens' Opens in new window ] In a bid to get back into business, Holyhead was reopened in a month with only one ramp in operation . This meant arrival and departure times had to be spaced out during the day. However, truckers are much happier with the schedules and want to keep them. Congestion in Dublin and Holyhead has reduced, speeding up traffic flow and customs checks. Nearly 500,000 articulated trucks were carried on all Irish Sea ferry routes last year, with 26 million tonnes of so-called 'roro' (roll-on/roll-off) truck freight carried on the Dublin/Holyhead routes alone. With sailings now leaving Dublin at 4am and 8am, trucks are off the M50 and roads surrounding Dublin Port before the 'rush in the morning and likewise with sailings early in the afternoon HGV traffic is off the M50 before evening rush hour', the haulage bodies said. 'The more dispersed sailing schedules also provides more competition and choice on the key routes, and reduces the potential impacts of the increased dominance of any one carrier, or port,' they said. [ Watch: Drone footage captures before and after of storm damage at Holyhead Port Opens in new window ] Two working ramps at Holyhead with only one being used at any one time 'leaves a spare ramp for maintenance or at times if this ramp should get struck, or damaged,' they told Ministers and the Welsh local authority. Changes to ferry schedules, some of which still have historic links to the mailboat traffic of generations past, do not have to be signed off by officials in Dublin, London, or the Welsh government. 'The current schedules are a significant improvement on the previous timetables and should be kept in the interests of efficiency, competitiveness, connectivity and the environment,' said Eugene Drennan of the Irish Road Haulage Association. 'The big thing is that we should never again have the total dysfunction that we had because of the storm last year. We have five to 12 storms a year and the ramps regularly get hit by a ferry,' he said.
Western Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
AIDAluna cruise ship visits Fishguard Harbour, Pembrokeshire
The 69,000 tonne, 251 metre long AIDAluna cruise ship put down her anchor in Fishguard Harbour this morning (Thursday, May 15). The beautiful vessel, decorated with playful eyes and lips at the bow, was christened by German model and actress Franziska Knuppe in 2009. The luxury ship, which cost $390m, boasts of 13 decks, six with cabins and has just undergone a lavish refurbishment. The ship departed from Hamburg on Saturday, May 11 with 1,800 mainly German passengers on board. She is embarking on a cruise round the UK before returning to Hamburg on May 25. Before Fishguard she had called at Portland and Falmouth. After her Welsh stop she will visit Liverpool and Belfast before travelling around Scotland. This is the AIDAluna's first visit to Fishguard. She is the second cruise ship of the season, preceded by the Ocean Albatross on May 6. Around a quarter of her 1,800 passengers will head out on excursions today to destinations including Carew Castle, the National Botanic Gardens, St Davids, Tenby, Pembroke and scenic Pembrokeshire. For the 1,350 passengers staying close to port, there is a quayside market of 15 local artists, crafters and producers and Fishguard Folk Singers will entertain the passengers over the lunchtime period. The passengers are also able to take the shuttle buses, supplied by Stena Line, up into Fishguard Town, walk the coast path, explore Sea Trust at Goodwick Parrog and enjoy the local cafes, bars and shops. All the passengers will be welcomed to the twin towns by the award-winning Fishguard Friendly Faces who will share a warm welcome, big smiles and local knowledge. A total of 28 cruise ships will dock in Fishguard this season. The next cruise ship in port will be the Le Boreal, which arrives for an 11 hour stopover on May 19.
