Irish Ferries, Stena Line and the operators of Holyhead Port have all said they expect Holyhead port to partially reopen as planned on Thursday, as one of two jetties damaged in Storm Darragh early in December is brought back into service.
Timetables have been altered to allow both ferry companies to use the same jetty and the port operator has said normal capacity on the Dublin Holyhead route will be available.
However, road hauliers, who have been diverting lorries to a range of ports on the west coasts of Scotland, England and Wales, have warned some 60 per cent of trade across the Irish Sea, which uses the Dublin Holyhead route, is now dependent on a single jetty.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Ger Hyland of the Irish Road Haulage Association said some €500 million in trade between Ireland and Britain was now hanging on a thread pending the full reopening of the port.
What’s in the programme for government: the main points, from housing and health to transport and trade
Ireland Six Nations squad: Sheehan and Lowe return; biggest calls at backrow and scrumhalf
Róisín Ingle: After a serious medical diagnosis, I made a small but profound lifestyle change
‘I think my cousin may be manipulating my grandmother into putting her into her will’
Mr Hyland said the State could not afford such a situation and he urged the incoming government to invest in Holyhead or “some other nearby port” to ensure that vital supply chains were not disrupted.
“It is a vital supply chain”, he said. “The government needs to look at the security of supply of goods and invest in Holyhead preferably because it has the infrastructure.”
Holyhead Port is owned by Stena Line and is operated as a separate entity to the ferry company.
Mr Hyland said if an investment which would ensure the availability of berths at Holyhead into the future was not feasible, the incoming government should look at buying one of the smaller ports in the Liverpool area.
Mr Hyland said he wants the government to set up a stakeholders’ group to examine the situation and come back with estimates of likely cost. The hauliers are also seeking compensation from government for significant losses which were incurred while the port was closed.
A spokeswoman for the port said “everything is going ahead tomorrow and we’re fully focused on the port reopening”.
Stena Line said it currently plans to operate four daily sailings from Holyhead at 4am, 10am, 4pm and 10.15pm from January 16th to February 28th.
“Beyond this date, the schedule will be updated accordingly if needed when the timeline for a return to a two-berth operation at Holyhead becomes clear,” the company said.
Irish Ferries said it would be returning to Holyhead on Thursday. The company said its timetable was published on its website.
More than half of Ireland’s Irish Sea trade with Britain is dependent on one jetty at Holyhead.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
