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Waterford objects to Cork expansion

12 Jun 2008

The Irish port of Cork’s plans for a new container terminal have been considered at an oral hearing, at which the Port of Waterford was a key objector.

Capacity at Cork’s existing container terminal at Tivoli is subject to severe limitations on the size and number of the ships which dock there, the hearing was told; the facility effectively reached capacity earlier than expected in 2006 and so the need for relocation is critical to the survival of the economy in Cork and Munster, said the port.

Martin Doherty, a senior environmental consultant with RPS, examined two scenarios; the “do-nothing” scenario, which considered over-capacity from Tivoli transferring to Waterford (60%) and Dublin (40%), and “do-something”, which looked at the closure of Tivoli and its replacement by the proposed new container terminal and multipurpose berth at Oyster Bank, Ringaskiddy. 

He said that while the development would result in more CO2 emissions in comparison with existing operations, with the expected growth in trade, the emissions under the “do-nothing” scenario would be significantly higher because the overall distances travelled by ship and land would be greater.

The Port of Cork handled a record 10.6m tonnes of cargo last year.  Container traffic grew by 8% to a 200,000 teu.

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