Signs of recovery for Cork port

PORT OF Cork chairman Dermot O’Mahoney has expressed satisfaction’s at the port’s performance in 2011. It achieved an operating profit before exceptional costs of €1.3 million – down by €700,000 from 2010 – on a turnover of €21.4 million.

Traffic amounted to 8.8 million tonnes in 2011, which matched 2010 levels, with oil amounting to 4.96 million tonnes and non-oil traffic accounting for 3.4 million tonnes, according to Mr O’Mahoney.

Oil traffic, handled mainly at Conoco Phillips Whitegate Oil refinery, was down 1 per cent on 2010 but non-oil traffic maintained the same level as 2010. Container traffic in 2011 increased by 6 per cent to 156,667 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit).

This maintained the port’s status as the second busiest in Ireland in terms of containers handled, said Mr O’Mahoney, adding that the port has started to experience signs of recovery in certain trades.

“I believe that the Port of Cork is central to a brighter economic future for the Irish economy and particularly for the Munster region given the value it brings in moving goods to market for both customers and businesses,” he said. “As one of Ireland’s major ports, we must continue to grow . . . as we look to secure planning for the port’s strategic development plan.”

Mr O’Mahoney said the port hosted 53 cruise liners in 2011 which brought more than 100,000 passengers and crew to the region.

“The port . . . aims to grow the business over the next five years from a high of 60 calls in 2012,” he said.

Brittany Ferries’ weekly Cork to Roscoff service had another very successful season, operating from March to November 2011. The port is working on the development of a new route from Cork to northern Spain.