During 2007 the Port commenced work on a new £37m terminal for Stena Line which was officially opened last month, completed a 30,000 sq ft general warehouse facility at Milewater Basin and a purchased a £1.7m mobile crane. Trade levels during the year also grew to a record 17.5m tonnes with an estimated value of £21bn.

Len O'Hagan, the Port's Chairman, said:

"2007 was another excellent year for the Port of Belfast reflecting strong growth in the wider economy driving imports and exports. There was also continued growth in specialist trade sectors, such as paper, in which the Port has invested in bespoke handling facilities which are among the most modern in these islands.

"Port development is highly capital intensive and requires long-term planning. In that regard the Port spent £32m in 2007 and has committed a further £42m on major infrastructure projects, all as part of its £630m 'Project 2025' which will enable Belfast to handle double its current trade throughput by 2025."
Mr. O'Hagan added:

"Although this is the fifth straight year of growth in Port traffic, there were indications towards the latter part of 2007 that trade had started to slow down. This was particularly noticeable in trades associated with the construction sector such as timber and cement.

"The Port, however, is a diverse business and on the plus side, container traffic was up an impressive 11% reflecting the first full trading year for Irish Continental Group's Belfast terminal and increased traffic at the Port's other container terminal operated by Coastal Container Line. Passenger numbers also rose by a healthy 4% to just under 1.3m.

"The Harbour Estate also remains an integral part of the business. Between 1992 and 2007 the Port was responsible for more than a six-fold increase in land developed (40 acres to 270 acres) and an increase in floor space from 855,000 sq ft to 5.2m sq ft. During 2007 this progress was maintained with the granting of Phase II planning for Titanic Quarter which the Port is co-promoting, additional development at Clarendon Dock and the opening of IKEA's first Irish store at Holywood Exchange."

Referring to the ongoing Ports Policy Review of the constitutional position of Northern Ireland's Trust Ports, including Belfast, Mr. O'Hagan commented:

"It's hard to believe that the debate over the powers and responsibilities of the Port has been ongoing for almost a decade - an issue which has consumed much time and thought. I'm delighted though that the return of devolution and a locally accountable Minister has broken the logjam.

"The Minister and the cross-party Committee for Regional Development have agreed in principle that Northern Ireland's Trust Ports should be given the capability to develop their full potential and compete on equal terms with other ports in the UK and Ireland.

"The detail of the new constitutional framework is currently being worked out and we are confident that this will enable Northern Ireland's Trust Ports to meet the challenges of the new century."

During 2007 Northern Ireland accounted for 80% of the tonnage handled through Belfast with the remaining 20% generated by traffic originating in or bound for the Republic of Ireland. With economic activity slowing down across the island during 2008 it's anticipated that the rate of growth in tonnage handled throughout the Irish Port sector will also slow down.

Click here to download the 2007 Annual Report document in Adobe PDF format (2Mb)

Hamilton Graving Dock, located at Abercorn Basin behind the Odyssey, hasn't been used commercially in over 15 years. The work will focus on providing a temporary new dock gate which will hold back up to 12ft of sea water. It's expected that the Nomadic will return 'home' before the end of the year.

Roy Adair, CEO of the Port of Belfast, said:

"The 450 ft long Hamilton Graving Dock was originally constructed by the Port in 1867 - the first dry dock to be built on the County Down side of the Port and a major stimulus for the shipbuilding boom which was to define Belfast.

"It's very fitting therefore that the Port is helping to refurbish the dock to celebrate both the Nomadic's and Belfast's Titanic heritage as part of our co-promotion of Titanic Quarter."

Mike Smith, Titanic Quarter's CEO added:

"Located within sight of the first residential development at Titanic Quarter, the arrival of SS Nomadic will mark an important landmark in the Port's and our ambition to ensure that Titanic Quarter reflects the maritime character of Queen's Island.

"Work is also planned to restore the Titanic's Drawing Office, create a new public space centred on the Titanic's slipway and, of course, the Titanic Signature Project. Together with the Nomadic, these developments will help make Belfast the No.1 Titanic attraction in the world."
Denis Rooney, Chairman of the SS Nomadic Charitable Trust, which is responsible for restoring the vessel, believes that Nomadic's permanent, new berth at Hamilton Dock will provide clarity and focus to the project:

"The Trust is delighted to reach the next milestone in Nomadic's restoration and bring to a close the long debate and speculation about her future home.

"The Hamilton Dock will provide a permanent base for Nomadic, both for restoration work to be carried out and further down the line, as a location for visitors to board her. Securing the dock is great news that will allow the Trust to proceed with major funding applications. On behalf of the Trust, I'd like to sincerely thank the Port of Belfast and Titanic Quarter for their generous support."

At present the Nomadic is currently berthed at Barnett Dock within an operational area of the Port. While it will not be possible to open her to the public this year, it is believed that the move to Hamilton Graving Dock will significantly boost the programme of work on the ship and facilitate her re-opening at some stage next year.

The Department for Social Development, which retains ownership of the vessel, is pleased that the Trust is making sufficient progress to remain on target to meet its 2011 completion objective. Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie explains:

"Significant progress has been made since Nomadic moved to Barnett Dock last winter - fundraising and project management teams have been appointed, marine engineer assessments have been conducted, funding applications have been submitted and the Trust is currently procuring consultants to conduct a conservation management plan. The consideration of suitable berths has also been a priority and I'm delighted that this has resulted in a permanent home at Hamilton Dock."

The Hamilton Graving Dock was built in 1867 along with 12-acres of sheltered water at Abercorn Basin. As well as the Nomadic, which was used for the Titanic's 1st & 2nd Class passengers, another Titanic tender, the less luxurious SS Traffic, used by 3rd Class passengers, is also believed to have been completed in the dock. The Hamilton Dock was still operational in the early 1990s when it was used for ship repair.

The three ministers were among 250 invited guests attending the launch of the three-storey, 35,000 sq ft facility which has been built by Belfast Harbour Commissioners on reclaimed land on Westbank Road at the edge of the Port.

Speaking at the event, Len O'Hagan, the Port of Belfast Chairman commended the long term vision and investment that allowed the new port to come to fruition:

"In an age where the prevailing philosophy seems not to believe in long-term rewards from long-term investments, I must commend previous Harbour Commissioners and previous management teams who have sought to plan Port developments around the needs of the local economy with a view which extended decades into the future," he said.

"In addition to the terminal itself, I am also pleased to confirm that work on a new four lane road linking the terminal directly to the motorway network will begin at the end of this year with a view to completing it in time for the start of the 2009 summer season.

"Our vision is to create a gateway which reflects Northern Ireland's new found optimism - optimism which is soaring high upon the potential which a return to stable devolution has unleashed," he added.

Stena Line's owner, Dan Sten Olson stressed the importance of the new port to Stena Line's Irish Sea operations and confirmed that the leading ferry company will continue to invest in the route between Belfast and Scotland with its intention to relocate its current port in Stranraer to a proposed new purpose-built facility at Old House Point.

Dan Sten Olson said:

"The Irish Sea is a key part of Stena Line's international business and also one of its strongest growing markets and as such is an area in which Stena Line is keen to invest. Together with the planned new facility at Old House Point on the Scottish coast, this new terminal provides a striking, modern facility that reflects the future of ferry travel in this country.

"Our customers understand that travelling by ferry is a convenient and comfortable way to cross the Irish Sea and we are seeing some evidence of a shift away from the "no frills" airlines to the more customer-focused service that we at Stena Line can provide. In spite of the volatile fuel market, in the first quarter of 2008 Stena Line's Irish Sea routes carried a total of 14 per cent more cars and 13 per cent more passengers compared with the same period last year.

"Our strategy of a rolling investment programme which has included £150m in this route alone over the last ten years has been matched by our commitment to customer service. I feel that this exciting development combined with the new port that we are planning to build in Scotland will only serve to further enhance our offering in this market," he concluded.

Stena Line is the market leader on the Irish Sea, offering the biggest fleet and the widest choice of routes from Ireland to Britain, including the Belfast to Stranraer, Larne to Fleetwood, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin Port to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard routes. The company carries over three million passengers on its Irish Sea routes each year, more than its rival ferry operators combined. The VT4 terminal has been in operation since the beginning of May.

The Port, which handles 17.5m tonnes of goods every year, has committed to offset all carbon emissions created by its operations and further reduce emissions per tonne in real terms by 20% within four years.

A baseline study conducted in 2007 revealed that Port Authority operations generated over 3,200 tonnes of carbon, the equivalent of 2,700 return flights between Belfast and New York. Electricity used to power items such as cranes and quay lighting were identified as the primary source, although the study also revealed that waste bound for landfill sites was also a major contributor.

In addition to ongoing projects to reduce carbon emissions, the Port also revealed details of a new environmental programme for schools with the help of ex-Blue Peter presenter, Zoe Salmon, and Webster, the Port 'monster', a new cartoon character to help children learn about the Port and green issues.
Speaking at the event, Len O'Hagan, the Port's Chairman said:

"Belfast Port is one of the foundation stones of the local economy, importing and exporting goods which help keep businesses and day-to-day life going. While we can and are making significant improvements by sourcing renewable energy, utilising new technology and recycling more, there will be - for the foreseeable future - an unavoidable level of residual carbon output.

"Off-setting that carbon by supporting the development of new environmental projects throughout the world, such as a hydro-electricity plant in India, will, however, allow the Port to effectively reduce its carbon footprint to net zero.

"It also means that as the Port rolls out its schools' environmental programme, hosting green themed tours and creating a new interactive section on our website, we can demonstrate that - while we're not perfect - organisations and individuals can start to make a positive contribution to the environment. We all have a part to play in helping meet the commitment set out in the UK Climate Change Bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050."

Also speaking at the event was Ben Jones, Client Director with The CarbonNeutral Company, the leading carbon offset and climate consulting provider:

"The World Development Movement estimates that Northern Ireland's 1.7 million people produce more CO2 than Sri Lanka's population of 20 million and that the average local person produces more CO2 in just one day than that produced in one year by the average person from world's poorest countries.

"Belfast Port is a great example for those trying to minimise CO2 emissions by reducing its impact through simple behaviour changes such as purchasing greener electricity, recycling and counter balancing non avoidable emissions by purchasing carbon credits in offsetting projects."

In a message of support, Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, said:

"I welcome this accreditation for the Port of Belfast. I commend the Harbour Commissioners, management and workforce for their efforts in making the reduction of the Port's Carbon Footprint a central part of their activities."

Ninety children from four Belfast primary schools also joined with Zoe Salmon to officially introduce 'Webster' the Port Monster and exhibit artwork which they had produced following a visit to the Port last year. Zoe added:

"The environment is one issue where I think children are a step ahead of the rest of us - they're very well informed and very keen to do what they can. It's great that organisations such as the Port are also taking the issue seriously and creating such innovative environmental campaigns. Webster looks fantastic and he'll really help the kids learn about green issues in a fun and easy to understand way."

The Port of Belfast has already introduced a number of measures to reduce carbon emissions including sourcing 13% of its electricity from renewable energy, recycling 43% of ships' waste - effectively diverting 325 tonnes from landfill sites - using a more efficient heating system in the Harbour Office and more environmentally friendly street lights. Last year the Port also recycled 10 tonnes of office paper and six tonnes of glass used at public functions held in the Harbour Office.

The Port is also looking at other clean energy options, encouraging further recycling and helping employees become more pro-active in reducing energy consumption and waste.

The Port of Belfast is the island's leading importer of animal feed and grain, handling a record 1.6m tones in 2007. One of the main users of the new store will be animal feed importer Cefetra, which manages import operations throughout Europe. Cefetra is the Port's second largest agri-food customer, supplying processors, milling companies and agri-food businesses across Ireland, and has entered into a long term commitment with the Port for the new facility.

Joe O'Neill, the Port's Commercial Director, said:

"Belfast is the island's largest bulk port with animal feed accounting for almost 25% of that business. The new facility being provided by the Port will enable importers such as Cefetra to maintain high levels of service and quality for the agri-food sector.

"In particular, Cefetra has been operating from Belfast since 2001 and over the years we've developed an excellent partnership with them and other importers, enabling the Port to progress this project for the benefit of the wider agri-business sector.

"The £6m investment is part of the Port's ongoing 'Project 2025' to invest £630m in new warehouses, quays and infrastructure. As part of that process the Port commissioned an independent report last year to examine future trends in the local economy and although there will be greater emphasis upon knowledge-based businesses, agri-food is and will remain a cornerstone of Northern Ireland's economy. The Port is committed to sustained investment to support the industry's ongoing development."

Andrew Mackay, CEO of Cefetra UK, added:

"Cefetra is a customer focused business committed to providing reliable, efficient and safe products for the food and feed industries. The Cefetra Group source raw materials globally, managing the supply chain from origin to the customer in Europe, trading in excess of 16 million tonnes annually.

"The long term agreement Cefetra has made with Belfast Port to import raw materials through the new extended deep water berth and adjacent new transit storage facilities will enable us to improve both our efficiency and the service we can offer to our valued customer base in Ireland.

"The agri-food sector in Ireland has an enviable reputation for quality and innovation and represents an important part of Cefetra Ltd's overall business."

Agri-food remains an important sector in Northern Ireland's economy accounting for 15.9% of local businesses compared to an average of just 3.8% across the UK. Cefetra's imports, which are sourced from GB, Europe and as far away as South America, are used primarily in the pork and dairy sectors. Imports from Belfast are distributed to customers from across the entire northern half of Ireland and as far west as Sligo and Galway.

The project is being undertaken by Maghera firm, BSG Civil Engineering. Build work is expected to be completed by January 2009.

Stormont Wharf is used to accommodate animal feed, coal and construction related imports as well as the Port's growing popularity as a cruise destination. The 250m extension is required to help the Port cope with the trend for larger vessels of up 300m in length.

Roy Adair, CEO of the Port, commented:

"Stormont Wharf is a critical piece of transport infrastructure for the Port and no less important than other crucial parts of Northern Ireland's transport network such as the M1 - it's our equivalent of a new section of motorway junction providing Northern Ireland with links to global markets. Ship technology is changing and Belfast needs to invest to ensure that the Port remains competitive; retaining the capacity to meet the requirements of shipping lines and the local companies which depend upon them for imports and exports.

"About 80% of all dry bulk imports to Northern Ireland come through Belfast, a significant proportion of which is handled at Stormont Wharf. The facility is particularly important for the local agri-feed and energy sectors and, increasingly, tourism, as the cruise line market continues to grow.

"This is the largest new quay capacity project which the Port has undertaken in forty years for the bulk sector and is fundamental to the Port's £630m long-term plan to double capacity by 2025."
Opened in 1959 to help support Northern Ireland's growing industrial base, particularly the export of bulk cargo such as heavy electrical goods, the original Stormont Wharf was only 580m long and cost under £500,000 to build. It was designed to cater for vessels bound from GB or northern Europe that were 75m to 100m in length with individual cargoes of 3,000 tonnes.

Today, vessels berthing at Stormont Wharf often originate from South Africa and South America. With average freight vessel sizes of between 250m and 300m, and cargo sizes of up to 40,000 tonnes per ship, the extension will enable the Port to simultaneously handle four deep-water vessels.

Mr. Adair added:

"Upon completion Stormont Wharf will be 1,040m long, about four times the length of the Titanic and 50m longer than the Eiffel Tower is high. With water depths of over 10m the wharf will improve flexibility and speed up turn around times for loading and unloading cargo.

"Belfast is the island's leading break bulk port with construction related imports increasing by 6% to break the 650,000 tonne mark for the first time in 2007. In addition, last year animal feed imports, which are principally handled at Stormont Wharf, rose to a record 1.6m tones - the quay needs to be lengthened to keep pace.

"The facility also doubles as the Port's main cruise ship berth and since the first liner called in 1996 the typical length of vessel visiting Belfast has doubled. The extension will enable us to develop disembarkation facilities for the 40,000 plus passengers and crew who now annually call at the Port."

Work on Stormont Wharf is being carried out by Saintfield based Dawson-Wam, specialist marine engineers and piling contractors.

According to its 2008 - 2012 Corporate Plan, capital investment by the Port is expected to increase to c.£40m next year as part of a 18-year, £630m expansion plan funded from the Port's own resources. According to an independent economic impact report launched in July 2007, such significant investment is required to cater for a projected doubling in the level of traffic handled by the Port by 2025.

The Port's 2006 Annual Accounts meanwhile recorded another record breaking financial performance with profit before taxation jumping by 13% to £18.7m. The Accounts also noted that last year capital investment rose by almost 9% to £13.6m.

According to Len O'Hagan, the Port's Chairman:

"Over the next 18 years the Port of Belfast will undertake one of the most extensive and ambitious investment programmes in its history - rivalled only by the opening of the Victoria Channel in the 1840s which heralded the creation of the modern port.

"Last year represented another high water mark in the Port's financial and operational performance, laying the basis for the 2008 - 2012 Corporate Plan, during which period the Port expects to invest £160m in Port development, ongoing regeneration of the Harbour Estate and co-promotion of Titanic Quarter.

"All of the Port's profits are committed to new investment projects and our aim is to provide enhanced facilities for customers and the local economy, and accelerate the Port's role as a major driver of economic activity and regeneration in Northern Ireland.

Major port developments reported in the 2006 Accounts include the opening of an 11.5 acre Belfast Container Terminal for Irish Continental Group and the completion of a 38,000 sq ft facility for Menzies which distributes newspapers and magazines to 1,700 customers across Northern Ireland.

In 2006 work also commenced on the first phase of development at Titanic Quarter including a 150,000 sq ft Gateway Office and the mixed use 'Arc' development providing 475 apartments and 36,000 sq ft of retail space.

More recently Titanic Quarter has received outline planning permission for 3.3m sq ft of mixed use floorspace as part of phase two developments, and both the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and Belfast Metropolitan College have announced that they will be relocating to the site. The Port is also hopeful that the Titanic Signature Project, which recently lost its bid for Big Lottery funding, will still be delivered in time for 2012, the centenary of the Titanic's loss.

Capital investment projects during 2008 will include the completion of a new £35m facility for Stena Line at Victoria Terminal 4, extension of the Port's deep water berth, road improvements and general infrastructure projects.

Click to download:

The announcement was made as an economic report was published detailing the scale of the Port's contribution to the Northern Ireland economy. Produced by the London based research consultancy 'cebr', the study forecasts that by 2025 the Port will need to invest heavily to cater for a doubling of traffic if Northern Ireland is to match economic activity in the rest of the UK.

According to the independent study the Port's activities directly and indirectly support 187,000 jobs (27% of Northern Ireland's entire workforce) and 31% of the region's total economic value (£19.5 billion).

Announcing the plans, Belfast Harbour Commissioners Chairman Len O'Hagan said:

"This report, the first of its kind, clearly demonstrates the vital role the Port of Belfast plays in the Northern Ireland economy. Last year the Port handled over 60% of Northern Ireland imports and exports, valued at £19.5bn."

"Recent events have transformed our political landscape, and a new chapter in Northern Ireland life has opened. I firmly believe that the best is yet to come and that with a local Assembly focussed on the issue, our target over the next 15-20 years must be to close the gap in economic performance between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and the Republic."

"On a wider context, the ongoing removal of barriers to international trade presents both opportunities and challenges for our economy and we must ensure that Northern Ireland has the infrastructure in place; the terminals, the quays, the warehouses and the roads, to successfully manage the projected growth."

"Our plans for future investment are a clear demonstration of the Port's commitment, both to Northern Ireland, and to the continued growth of our economy."

Roy Adair, CEO , Port of Belfast, said:

"Today's report shows how important the Port of Belfast is to the continued success of the Northern Ireland economy. Economic growth means that current Port land resources will become exhausted and it is for this reason that we plan to reclaim 120 acres from Belfast Lough. The new land will support an additional 6 km of quayside and will require a total investment of £630m."

"Since Belfast's earliest days, the Port has ensured that local products can reach markets across the world. From our original base at the bottom of High Street, we have grown, and will continue to grow, to meet the needs of the Northern Ireland economy."

It's also estimated that 17,000 people (19% of Belfast's total) work within the Harbour Estate and that the Port and its tenants annually pay over £11million in rates or 8.1% of Belfast City Council's total.

The three-storey, 35,000 sq ft facility is being built on reclaimed land at the edge of the existing Port, enabling Stena Line to relocate its Belfast operations over two miles closer to the Scottish coast. The terminal is due to open just before the busy 2008 summer season.

The development is the most expensive project to be undertaken by the Port in its 400-year history and will cover a 32-acre site, an area over twenty times the size of Belfast City Hall.

Such is the importance of the scale of the investment taking place here, the Stena Line Executive Board travelled from the company's headquarters in Sweden to mark the occasion at an event hosted by Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

Speaking at the launch of construction work, Len O'Hagan, the Port's Chairman said:

"To ensure that those travelling to and from Scotland do so in the quickest time possible, the Port has physically moved itself closer to Scotland. Eight years ago the Port began reclaiming part of Belfast Lough with millions of tonnes of stone and sand, creating a site that will allow Stena Line to relocate its Belfast operations nearer to Scotland.

"In addition the Port will also build a new dual carriageway directly linking the new terminal with the M2 at Fortwilliam to provide easy access for drivers and hauliers. This investment is being funded directly by the Port - at no cost to the taxpayer - as part of a £140m investment programme to enhance what is Northern Ireland's primary gateway to the world."

"By ensuring that local importers and exporters can access the global market more quickly and more often, today's investment will improve the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland economy. I pay particular tribute to Stena Line's long-term commitment to Northern Ireland and am delighted that its Board has joined us from Sweden to officially launch work on the project."

Stena Line's global CEO, Gunnar Blomdahl added:

"The Irish Sea is a key part of Stena Line's international business and also one of its strongest growing markets. Together with a new proposed facility in Cairnryan, the new Belfast terminal will reduce travel time by 20 minutes and allow Stena Line to provide additional sailings."

"Despite the impact of low cost airlines and a volatile fuel market, we have continued to grow our business and nowhere is this more evident than on the Irish Sea. Our strategy of a rolling investment programme, which has included £150m in this route alone over the last ten years, has been matched by our commitment to customer service. I feel that this exciting development will only serve to further enhance our offering in this market."

"This is an ambitious engineering project, but nothing I believe compared to the efforts of one 'Finn MacCool' who went to the bother of building a causeway to Scotland. Hopefully today he'd take the more relaxing option of catching the Stena HSS!" joked Gunnar.

Roy Adair, the Port's CEO added:

"For many people the Port of Belfast is their first impression of Northern Ireland and it is fitting that they will soon be disembarking at one of the most modern terminals in these islands. This is good news for both tourists and commercial traffic, and sends out the message that this is a city and a society which is confident of its future."

The new terminal will include a restaurant, lounges, a viewing gallery and dedicated facilities for HGV drivers. Design and build work is being carried out by Newtownabbey-based McLaughlin & Harvey and will be project managed on behalf of the Port by Mouchel Parkman.

In addition to providing 75 jobs, construction of the new terminal will use, among other things, 600 tonnes of reinforced steel, 1,850 tonnes concrete and enough bitumen to build a theoretical one metre wide causeway from Belfast to the Scottish coast.

Container handling capacity at the Port of Belfast has been boosted by 40% by the opening of a new container terminal at Herdman Channel.

Operated by Belfast Container Terminal (BCT), a subsidiary of Irish Continental Group (ICG), up to 50,000 containers a year will pass through the new facility.

Located on an 11.5-acre site in the County Antrim side of the Port, BCT is one of the largest container facility expansions to be developed by an Irish port in the last decade. The new facility will provide local businesses with access to three direct sailings every week to and from Rotterdam and Antwerp.

Welcoming the opening of BCT, the Port’s CEO, Roy Adair, said:

“BCT is a major multi-million pound investment by the Port of Belfast and ICG, designed to help accommodate the island’s rapidly expanding container market.

“It’s widely anticipated that the global boom in sea borne trade – driven primarily by an explosion in Far Eastern manufacturing – will place considerable strain on port capacity throughout the east coast of Ireland.

“Last year the Irish Business & Employers Confederation (IBEC) warned that there is ‘serious danger of a major capacity shortfall’ in the Republic of Ireland leading to ‘a loss of competitiveness for industry’.

“Such concerns have also been expressed by other industry commentators and our expectation is that BCT will help alleviate that pressure and attract business not only from Northern Ireland, but also the border counties and beyond.”

Liam Lacey, Managing Director of ICG’s Container & Terminal Division added:

“The new container terminal is a significant addition to capacity in the Port of Belfast and will add substantially to the growth of this sector in Belfast.

“It also represents ICG’s first investment in a dedicated terminal facility outside of the Republic of Ireland, reflecting our confidence in the outlook for the Northern Ireland economy.”

The terminal will handle a wide range of containerized cargo including consumer products, manufactured goods produced by all of Northern Ireland’s major manufacturers, refrigerated export cargoes and raw materials such as rubber.

Sailing times between Belfast, Rotterdam and Antwerp is three days. Much of the cargo using the service originates from or is bound for the Far East and other international deep-sea ports.

One of Belfast’s oldest surviving pieces of maritime heritage, Clarendon Dry Dock No. 2, is still in working order, 180 years after it was built on the site of the city’s first shipyard.

Although ships haven’t been built in the dock within living memory, Clarendon, which is situated behind the Port of Belfast’s Harbour Office, is still used by Belfast Harbour Commissioners whose predecessors originally commissioned the building of the dock in 1826.

The dock is now used to service and repair the ‘Victoria’, a ship used for survey work and to help maintain navigation lights and fog horns on the approaches to the Port.

Joe O’Neill, the Port’s Commercial Director, said:

“In the 1790s the Port of Belfast was keen to encourage ship building in the Harbour area. The first shipbuilder, William Ritchie, came to Belfast from Ayrshire in 1791 and was asked by the Port to build the town’s first dry dock.

“Clarendon Dock No.1, was completed in 1800, followed in 1826 by Clarendon Dock No.2 where the Victoria has just finished her tri-annual inspection. The fact that the dock is still operational and still uses hand driven winches and pulleys is testimony to the enduring standards of Belfast’s pre-Victorian engineers.”

Clarendon Dock is 285ft long and over 30ft wide, and was built to accommodate two 600 tonne vessels. When full it holds the equivalent of over 4m pints of water. Flooding the dock takes about 90 minutes once the sluice gates at the seaward end of the dock are raised.

Opening the two main dock gates which swing out into the sea is, however, a more complicated process that takes place at high tide and requires a balance in water levels both inside and outside the dock to create an equilibrium in water pressure.

Initially designed for shipbuilding, much of the dock’s life has been given over to ship repair. In more recent times though, Clarendon has been used as the backdrop for a ‘Songs of Praise Choir’ led by Sir Harry Seacombe and even a giant piece of modern art using floating bathtubs.

Joe O’Neill added:

“When Clarendon Dock was first built, Belfast had a population of 40,000, gas lighting had just been introduced and cotton was the town’s biggest industry.

“In 1826 the Port handled 210,000 tonnes of cargo - today that figure has multiplied eighty fold to over 17m tonnes. Queen’s Island and the vast majority of the land which make up the modern Port of Belfast had yet to be reclaimed from Belfast Lough and it would be 20 years before the Victoria Channel was created.

“While ship building may have declined, the Port has encouraged the development of a wide mix of logistics firms, manufacturers, hi-tech industry and the Odyssey leisure complex within its Harbour Estate.

“I’m not sure what Ritchie would make of the modern day Port, but I’m sure he’d be impressed that the dry docks associated with his shipyard are still in working order and that this area is still at the heart of Belfast’s commercial activity.”

The Port of Belfast has welcomed the Department for Regional Development’s appointment of Len O’Hagan as the next Chairman of Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC).

Mr. Frank Cushnahan, BHC’s outgoing Chairman, said:

“Len O’Hagan will bring a great deal of commercial and financial expertise to his new appointment, drawing upon his experience at senior levels within commerce and, more recently, as a Belfast Harbour Commissioner.

“The Port has embarked upon one of the most significant investment programmes in its history and, on behalf of the Board, I am pleased that the Harbour Authority will be able to avail of Len’s extensive skills and insight.”

David Cairns, the Minister responsible for Regional Development said:

“I am very pleased that Len O’Hagan has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. He is currently a Harbour Commissioner and has held senior positions in a number of international public companies. He will bring this wealth of experience to his new responsibilities.”

Len O’Hagan has held a number of senior positions including CEO of Fitzwilton Plc, Chairman of Safeway Ireland and Managing Director of Jefferson Smurfit Group. In addition he has held non executive directorships with the Independent News & Media NI Ltd and Waterford Wedgwood (UK) Plc.

Mr O’Hagan served for seven years on the Council of CBI Northern Ireland, chaired the IBEC/CBI Business Development Committee and currently serves on the IBEC/CBI Joint Business Council. From 2002 he has been the chairman and owner of a business consultancy company, OHC Corporate Advisers Ltd.

The Minister also paid tribute to Frank Cushnahan:

“Since being appointed chairman in 1998, Frank Cushnahan has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the Port of Belfast and has played a major role in its continuing success.”

Mr O’Hagan has been a Belfast Harbour Commissioner since 2005. The appointment of the new chairman commences on 1 January 2007. 

The Port of Belfast has published its 2005 Annual Accounts detailing the Harbour Authority’s most successful financial performance to date. The results represent the final set of accounts to be delivered by the outgoing Chairman of Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC), Frank Cushnahan CBE.

Mr. Cushnahan, who retires at the end of December, has served as Chairman for the past eight years, overseeing a period of strong growth and development by Northern Ireland’s largest seaport and the region’s leading logistics and distribution hub.

Figures for 2005 include an increase in net profits to £16.6m (up 11%) and a rise in turnover to almost £30m (up 3%). As a pre-cursor to the Port’s 2006 – 2010, £140m investment programme, capital expenditure on port and estate infrastructure also increased dramatically by 40% to £13.6m.

Commenting on the results Mr. Cushnahan said:

“2005 was another excellent year for the Port of Belfast and the strong financial performance represents good news for the wider economy. Over the next five to ten years the Port is undertaking very significant investments in infrastructure which will ensure that Belfast has the most efficient, cost effective and modern Port facilities on the island’s eastern seaboard.

“Such success will also ensure that Belfast Harbour Estate continues to be a major stimulant of economic activity and a prime destination for inward investors. In the past 15 years alone the Port has facilitated developments valued at £700m within its estate.

“By enabling projects such as the Odyssey, Clarendon Dock, Sydenham Business Park and the Northern Ireland Science Park, the Port is helping Belfast recast itself as a modern metropolitan hub.

“Looking forward, Titanic Quarter, which is being co-promoted by the Port of Belfast, has the potential to establish Belfast as one of Europe’s leading cities and a focal point for the new knowledge economy.

“These have been, and remain, exciting times for the Port of Belfast and serving as its Chairman has been a privilege. I’ve relished the challenge and I thank employees and customers for making the last eight years so memorable.”

In June the Department for Regional Development published a Ports Policy Review fuelling speculation that Government may be considering an ‘asset strip’ in whole or part of the Port.

Warning that such a move would jeopardise the Port’s contribution to the Northern Ireland economy Mr. Cushnahan said:

“In reality the Port of Belfast belongs to the people of Northern Ireland. Every penny earned by the Port, net of tax, is reinvested for the benefit of Port Users and the development of its Harbour Estate, which, in turn, provides significant benefits to the Northern Ireland economy.

“The Port is a unique organisation that is exceptionally well managed, and is both commercially successful and publicly accountable. ‘Asset stripping’ the Port would significantly undermine its future investment plans, and while a perceived short term benefit could accrue to the Exchequer, the medium and longer term interests of the Port Authority and the Northern Ireland economy would, in the opinion of the both BHC Board Members and its Executives, be disadvantaged.

“It is worth considering that the decision taken by the Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2001 that the Port would be best served by remaining as a Trust Port with Extended Powers was fully supported on a cross-party basis.

“Such decision, which yet remains to be implemented as agreed with the Department for Regional Development, is still supported by all of Northern Ireland’s political parties at this time.

“The Port, over a period of about 400 years, has achieved major material benefits for Northern Ireland and it would be a travesty to significantly dilute its projected contributions in order to assist short-term budgetary assumptions by Central Government.”

Paying tribute to Mr. Cushnahan the Port’s CEO, Roy Adair said:

“Frank Cushnahan has overseen one of the most dynamic and successful periods in the Port’s history, laying the foundation for future growth and expansion.

“Major achievements include the establishment of Belfast as a cruise destination, the rejuvenation of the Harbour Estate, initiating Titanic Quarter and creating a healthy financial position which will help fund unprecedented levels of investment in Port facilities over the next 20 years.

“Frank leaves the Port in robust shape and as a major catalyst for the entire Northern Ireland economy. On behalf of his colleagues and Port Users, I pay tribute to and thank him for his unstinting dedication and service to the Port of Belfast.”

In 2001 Mr. Cushnahan, a Corporate Banker by profession whose family has direct association with the Belfast docks area, was awarded the CBE for services to the Northern Ireland economy. It is expected that he will pursue other business interests when he steps down as BHC’s Chairman.

Northern Ireland’s three largest Trust Ports, Belfast, Londonderry and Warrenpoint, have submitted a joint report to Government suggesting a new business / legislative model for the Ports.

The new approach is being suggested as a possible, but not prescriptive solution that will:

• free the Ports from the restrictions created by their classification as Public Corporations

• deliver the wider commercial powers agreed with Government in 2001 but not yet enacted

• maintain public accountability of the Ports and ensure that they continue to be managed for the benefit of the wider public interest

The Trilateral Report, produced by independent specialists in the port sector, is available in full from each of the Ports websites.

Trilateral Report

The Port of Belfast has uncovered an original copy of an advertising campaign first published in the News Letter 74 years ago today. Printed in the days when the News Letter was a broadsheet, the advert highlights Belfast’s position as the ‘Premier Port and Gateway of Ireland’ and details the various facilities the Port had to offer.

Among the Port’s benefits listed were ‘Docks, Sheds, Cranes and Facilities for All Classes of Ships and Cargo’, ‘Seven Miles of Quays’, ‘Excellent Waterside Sites for Industries’ and the ‘Ideal Distributing Centre for Ireland and South of Scotland’.

Roy Adair, the Port of Belfast’s current Chief Executive, said:

“The Port has changed dramatically in the last seventy years due to changes in technology and its expansion through land reclamation projects, but there are definitely common strands between the 1930s advertising campaign and those used by the modern Port.

“For example, although the Port is primarily associated with ships, an integral part of the business is still the provision of up-to-date storage facilities and terminals for the 17m tonnes of cargo and 1.2 million passengers who use the Port every year.

“In recent years the Port has continued the tradition of investment, developing dedicated steel, paper and animal feed handling facilities which have helped make the Port of Belfast Northern Ireland’s leading logistics and distribution hub, and the island’s premier Port for bulk cargo.”

In addition to the advert, the News Letter also ran a full page of editorial on the Port of Belfast’s development, describing it as the ‘Gateway of Ulster’ and the ‘Tidal Estuary Which Became a Model Modern Port’.

In particular it highlights the work of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners whose ‘great vision and courage’, ‘progressive spirit’ and ‘feverish activity’ were fundamental to developing, among other things, the Victoria Channel which, when it opened in 1849, ensured easy and safe navigation from the River Lagan to Belfast Lough.

In the words of the News Letter this development made the Port of Belfast ‘the artery through which has pulsed the flow of trade, foreign, cross-channel, and coastwise, chiefly responsible for raising the status of Belfast from that of a town of 87,000 inhabitants to a city exceeding 400,000’.

Roy Adair added:

“The Port of Belfast is still instrumental to the economic well being of Northern Ireland and the smooth running of day-to-day life, handling two thirds of the Province’s seaborne trade including food, fuel, timber and every sort of consumer good.

“The present day Port is very aware of the enormous contribution which our predecessors made to Northern Ireland and, in similar vein, is overseeing a five-year, £140m plus investment programme - the largest in the Port’s history – to deliver new facilities and infrastructure which will maintain Belfast as a ‘model modern Port’.

Syydenham Business Park in Belfast Harbour Estate is set to expand by 30% following the release of eleven serviced sites totalling over 22 acres. Representing the largest single release of commercial development land currently available in Belfast, the sites are being offered by the Port of Belfast, which owns and manages the Harbour Estate.

Ranging from one acre through to 5.75 acres, the sites are available to owner-occupiers and developers, and are suitable for a wide range of commercial uses. According to Mark Doherty, the Port of Belfast’s Estate Officer, the release reflects a marked upturn in Belfast’s commercial property market:

“Over the last ten years the Port of Belfast has invested significantly to facilitate the development of this part of the Harbour Estate, all of which was originally created by land reclamation projects undertaken by the Port.

“This investment has helped make Sydenham Business Park one of the most attractive commercial locations in Belfast and we anticipate that following a number of difficult years, demand for prime commercial space is on the increase.

“The Harbour Estate is an integral part of the Port of Belfast’s business and the income streams generated from the release will be used to support the Port’s £140m capital investment programme over the next five years. We’re particularly interested in attracting owner occupiers to facilitate the immediate development of the sites.”

Ian Duddy of Colliers CRE, agents for the release, said:

“This is an unrivalled opportunity in Belfast’s commercial property market. The sites provide excellent access to Northern Ireland’s key roads infrastructure, the Port of Belfast and Belfast City Airport. The response to date has been very encouraging, reflecting the general buoyancy of the local owner-occupier market.”

Situated just two miles from Belfast City Centre, Sydenham Business Park’s secure setting within the Harbour Estate has already attracted a range of high profile inward investors and indigenous companies including Phoenix Natural Gas, Bank of Ireland, NTL, Lagan Technologies, DWS Group, SHS Group and Fujitsu.

The new sites will be released via development agreements with leasehold interests granted on completion of the development.

For more information contact Ian Millar or Jonathan Duddy, Colliers CRE, 028 9024 1500

Commenting on the figures, Joe O’Neill, the Port of Belfast’s Commercial Director, said:

“2005 was the Port’s busiest year ever for breakbulk and the second busiest year ever across all sectors - a reflection not only of the performance of the local economy, but also the ongoing investment by the Port in dedicated handling facilities such as a 110,000 sq ft paper store which opened in 2000.

“Last year over 10 million tonnes of container and roll-on / roll-off freight traffic was carried in addition to seven million tonnes of bulk goods including fertilizers, grain, animal feeds and petroleum products, helping maintain the Port of Belfast as Northern Ireland’s premier maritime gateway.”

Other key performers during 2005 included imports and exports of stones, up 16%, and cement, up 11%, reflecting the buoyant nature of the construction sector in the UK and Ireland. The Port also handled record tonnages of containerised cargo.

Although passenger numbers in 2005 declined to just over 1.2m due to the continuing popularity of low cost airlines and the cessation of Seacat services, roll-on roll-off freight traffic remained strong at almost 350,000 vehicles.

Looking back over the figures for the last quarter of a century, Joe O’Neill added:

“Given the sheer volume of traffic passing through the Port of Belfast, it’s not surprising that the Port acts as something of an economic barometer for the entire region. For example, since the recession of the early 1980s there has been a very steady and marked increase in trade handled by the Port as the economy has continued to grow.

“Wider changes in society are also reflected. The move towards alternative energy sources has reduced domestic coal imports from a peak of 604,000 tonnes in 1985 to just under 200,000 tonnnes in 2005, while the building boom has helped double the amount of timber handled since the late 1990s.”

According to Roy Adair, Port of Belfast’s CEO:

“Despite its laudable objective, the legislation was designed very much with Continental issues in mind and its ‘one size fits all’ approach would have been detrimental to the UK ports industry which already enjoys an open and competitive port services market.”

Mr. Adair added:

“The Directive’s impact would have been particularly damaging in Northern Ireland and would have hindered the Port of Belfast and Port Users from entering into long-term contracts, thus undermining the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

“The Port of Belfast accounts for the majority of Northern Ireland’s seaborne trade and everyday, everyone in Northern Ireland uses goods sourced via the Port. Today’s vote will help the Port of Belfast to continue to provide modern and efficient services to the local economy.”