Ireland: Dublin Port Expansion Plan Includes Dredging

Dublin Port Company has announced a plan for the development of its deep water berths.

Part of the river Liffey at Dublin Port will be dredged to create a 12m deep channel for some of the world’s biggest liners, up to 340m long, to dock beside the East Link toll bridge. The development will be promoted with at least a quarter of the 100 cruise ships coming into Dublin this year using the berths.

It will also ensure that tides will not stop the bigger ships getting closer to the city centre. Dublin Port Company has begun a pre-planning consultation process and a planning application for the work to take place is expected to be submitted in September.

The development intends to create room for 2 new cruise berths next to the toll bridge. Larger cruise ships coming into Dublin currently dock at the Alexandra basin, a few kilometres away from the East Link bridge and the easy access to the city center.

The development will also see berths deepened at Alex Quay West and Ocean Pier West in the docks to accommodate dry bulk freight ships and container ships.

The new deep water berths by the toll bridge will have room for two 340m cruise ships and one 145m cruise ship. A large ship turning area has also been included in the plans.

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Dredging Today Staff, June 7, 2013