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AN BORD PLEANÁLA have given the green light to Dublin’s Port’s €230 million redevelopment plan – aimed at increasing the flow of cargo and cruise ships into the city.
Some 3km of quay walls would have to be rebuilt as part of the overhaul, while existing pier space would also be demolished.
Dredging would also take place to allow an extra 2.2 metres of depth in the approach to the Liffey, from Dublin Bay.
Other sign-offs, from the Department of the Environment and the EPA are still needed. The company says it’s been in regular contact with both – and that it’s hoping to hear positive news in the next few months.
The overhaul means that even the largest cruise ships in the world would be able to sail into the port – and much further into the city than before.
Ships like the 360 metre Allure of the Seas would be able to sail up as far as the East Link, beside the 3Arena (Point) once the project is completed.
Currently the biggest cruise vessel in the world, the Royal Caribbean craft has its own ice-skating rink, a mini golf course and 300 state rooms that overlook a mini Central Park (with real trees and everything).
The port project is expected to take five years to complete, and Dublin Port CEO Eamonn O’Reilly said they hoped to be in a position to begin construction later this year.
A planning hearing last October heard that environmental impact studies had been submitted by the port company alongside the planning application.
A range of interest groups – including residents associations and environmental groups – also sent in written submissions.
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Significant planning and research had to be undertaken ahead of the inaugural visit of the 330 metre MSC Splendida earlier this year – to date, the largest vessel to berth in the port.
Ships any larger than the Splendida have to anchor out in Dublin Bay, and send in tender boats to bring in passengers.
Completion of the planned Alexandra Basin Redevelopment would make it much simpler for ships to dock – and it’s hoped the project will boost plans to promote the city as a cruise destination.
It’s hoped the plan will lead to a 30 per cent increase in port volume, within the decade following its construction.
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The Journal persist in printing only half the story. To carry out this work they must dredge the Port way put into Dublin Bay. the 12 Million tons that they dredge up is to be dumped into the Bay opposite the Bailey light house on a “dispersive ” dumpsite.
Last time they dumped there one year later only 15% of the material remained there. This 12 Million tons is in part contaminated with heavy metals form the old Liffey boatyards works. We divers will be diving in this stuff for at least the 6 years of the Project as will the swimmers of Dublin Bay. Light will not be able to penetrate the water with the suspended silt and we will be diving only by torchlight. It will also lead to more silting up of the Blue lagoon from Sutton to Clontarf and it will increase the wave height at Clontarf wooden bridge and increase flooding there. Dublin bay is protected by 6 EU SAC’s (Special Areas of Conservation) and is an UNESCO biosphere reserve and yet they permit this dumping. That’s a lot more of the story now.
Interesting, any articles etc that we can read to learn more about this?
Yes but will take a week to get through the detail to the facts http://dublinportabr.ie/
Will Denis the menace get the contract
If he doesnt I would bet money that one of the companies he is involved with does. KPMG will probably get to handle the sale/shares and the inquiry afterwards #bananarepublic
Finally Dublin will have highrise…all be it in the form of visiting ships
Soon as in 20 years? Glaciers move faster than construction in this country.
is there any projections as to how much revenue will be gained for the state after spending this money on it.
That’s an awful lot of parking to pay back e230 million – probably end up as e400 million.
am sure the man with no name has his greedy little fingers in this project somewhere !!
I guess they’re not relocating the port up to Balbriggan then.
They should do this in Dun Laoghaire now the ferries have stopped.
I suggested this to someone recently and they went mad and said there is nothing for them in Dunlaoighre. They’d end being bused off elsewhere! Wasn’t much point in continuing the conversation
230 million to start
2 billion at the finish
Sure we can take 2 of those at the same time in Cork Harbour.
But then the poor tourists would have to actually visit Cork
But then again if Dublin wants Dublin gets.
There is good reason for it. http://www.dubchamber.ie/policy/economic-profile-of-dublin
is this the work that the dublin docklands authority abandoned at great loss to the national bank balance? Or are we hearing the same thing announced again with new massively expensive consultants starting from scratch?
And we can’t even get them to move a build up of sand out of mullaghmore Sligo so boats can get in and out on low tide 230 million doesn’t make sense to me.
4 year old article http://www.dublincity.ie/dublin-city-council-plan-launched-board-luxury-liner-crown-princess-dublin-port
Lots of tourist income but those cruise ships are quite grotesque in reality. The epitome of consumerism. Additionally, massive air polluters with no international regulation.
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