Irish shipping traffic at its highest level since 2008

Improving domestic condition helped the country’s maritime industry bounce back last year with shipping traffic rising 7 per cent to 29.8 million tonnes, its highest level since 2008.

The total volume of traffic moving through Irish ports was below the peak achieved in 2007, but represents substantial progress from the low recorded in 2009.

The iShip Index from the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), shows Cork, Greenore, Shannon Foynes, Waterford and Wicklow all recorded above average growth rates in traffic in 2015.

LoLo traffic("lift on, lift off' crane loaded cargo), moving predominantly through Dublin, Cork and Waterford, was up 8 per cent to 860,277 twenty-foot equivalent unit (teu), with each port recording significant volume gains. RoRo cargo ('roll on, roll off' truck based delivery), grew 6 per cent to 1.2 million units, with almost all such shipments coming through Dublin Port.

The figures show more than 4.4 million passengers travelled through Dublin, Rosslare and Cork ports in 2015. A further 450,000 people entered the country briefly via stops made by 246 cruise liners, up 3 per cent on the previous year.