Planning approval may still be far from complete, but some 42,000 tonnes of the Mayo gas pipeline are due to arrive into Galway port over the next few months in a delivery which will last until the end of April.
The 96-metre Suma docked in the port at the weekend, bearing the first consignment to the west coast.
However, deliveries are also being made in Drogheda, Co Louth, and Foynes, Co Limerick, for a total consignment of 160,000 tonnes.
The pipe is being shipped from Dunkirk in France, and total value to Galway Harbour Company is estimated at €125,000, in terms of wages for pilots, line-handlers, vessel dues and merchandise dues.
Main beneficiary is expected to be Madden Transport which has a fleet of trucks ready to transport the pipe to points north.
However, Galway hopes to demonstrate that it can discharge the freight in a more efficient manner than its competitors. The thinking behind this is that contracts for the pipeline to Sligo, Ballina and Westport will be up for negotiation. The oral hearing into the Bord Gais construction of the Mayo-Gas pipeline is due to open in the Travellers' Friend, Castlebar, Co Mayo, on December 11th.