Port of Cork reveals plans for leaving Cork city and expanding at Ringaskiddy and Marino Point
Public engagements today and tomorrow in Cork City and Cobh show the public a plan for logistics for Cork Harbour until 2050
All shipping activities on quaysides in Cork city will stop “in the near future” in preparation for the Port of Cork’s longer term vision of moving all container shipping further down into Cork Harbour, according to plans being made public by the Port of Cork authority this week.
A public engagement day was held in Ringskiddy’s Ferry Terminal yesterday, with the “Port of Cork Masterplan 2050” plans being unveiled for the future of sea logistics in Cork.
In line with Ireland 2040 plans to develop the Docklands and Tivoli areas and place a bridge at Tivoli to facilitate the Monahan Road becoming the main route into Cork City, all dockside and container activities in Cork City and Tivoli are to be phased out, with commercial port activities concentrated in Marino Point and Ringaskiddy after 2040.
It is unknown how much revenue the Port of Cork company will make through the sale of land in the Docklands and Tivoli.
The M28 and road dependence
The removal of sea access to Cork City will mean that all goods destined for the city or for through-transit to the Munster region will need to arrive to the city by road from Ringaskiddy once the move has been completed.
There are no rail plans in the public consultation documents apart from a mention of the potential for freight services on the current Cobh line to Marino Point on Great Island, where it’s intended that facilities for dry bulk cargoes will be expanded to include 17 hectares of currently unused land.
One Passage West resident present at the public consultation raised concerns about dust and odours for Passage West and Marino Point, and concerns about increasing the use of the narrow R624 across Belvelly Bridge for lorries.
Rail capacity to Marino Point is currently passenger only on the Cobh line, but a Port of Cork staff member said the potential was there to use rail for cargoes from Marino Point.
“We spoke to CIE and it can be done,” he said. “Industry has no interest at present, but if the market wants to use it, it’s there.”
The Port of Cork are “seeking an enhanced bridge crossing at Belvelly” on the narrow R624, according to the public engagement documents.
A projected increase in Port Traffic at Ringaskiddy, which is already home to 70% of the port’s business, relies on an upgraded road link onto the M28, now the N28 and reclaiming 6.6 hectares of land from the sea at Ringaskiddy.
The upgraded M28 will “enable the relocation of the Port of Cork’s activities to Ringaskiddy” after the upgraded road, given planning permission in 2018, is complete some time between 2029 and 2036 according to the Port of Cork Masterplan.
The Jack Lynch Tunnel has already created a restriction on access for larger ships to Tivoli and Cork City.
A Port of Cork employee said the future of road transport could see a move away from fossil fuel dependency.
“What trucks will be running on in 2050, the chances are it will be very different,” he said. “It could be battery powered, hydrogen powered or ammonia.”
It’s envisioned that a removal of container shipping and cargo ships from Cork City and Tivoli could be beneficial to the safety of leisure pursuits in the inner harbour.
The Port of Cork Masterplan 2050 can be viewed at two more public consultation days in Cork City and Cobh:
October 6: Cork City Public Consultation Day, 1pm-7pm at Páirc Uí Chaoimh Oct 7: Cobh Public Consultation Day, 1pm-7pm at Sirius Arts CentreAn online survey on the plans can be completed here.