Irish ports played a pivotal role in alleviating the traffic chaos caused by extreme weather conditions in Ireland over the past week.
Over 250 trucks transported more than 4,000 tonnes of rock salt across the country after a shipment arrived at Foynes Port. Freezing fog on the Shannon Estuary prevented the shipment from getting to Limerick Port and meant the ship instead had to dock and unload at Foynes. Unloading of the salt shipment commenced at 1400 and an estimated 200 trucks transported the rock salt to 17 local authorities from Donegal to Cork.
Commenting on the shipment, Shannon Foynes Port Company acting CEO Mr Pat Keating said: "We are delighted to get this new business and be part of the logistics chain of getting salt into Ireland and out onto roads at this critical time. No doubt this on its own won't be enough but it will be a significant contribution at a critical time and we are very happy to play our part in this." Among the counties who received supplies from the shipment were Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Offaly, Tipperary North, Tipperary South, Westmeath and Wicklow.
A further shipment is expected in Port of Cork with 3,500 tonnes of salt, Port of Cork management confirmed that The MV Blue Bay is expected to deliver a much-needed cargo of salt to help grit the country's roads. This is the third shipment of salt - bringing to 11,450 tonne, the amount of salt that has passed through the Port of Cork to the surrounding regions in just over a week.
Dublin Port Company confirmed that the port remained fully operational throughout the current adverse weather. Dublin Port remained open and all berths are fully operational with roads within the Port estate been gritted by staff at Dublin Port Company. There has been no disruption to arrivals and departures at the port and all ship movements this evening are unaffected by the adverse weather conditions.
Dublin Port Company urges all port users to allow sufficient time to reach the port given the significant disruption to traffic in the city and to heed travel advice from the relevant authorities.
Source: The IMDO, January 2010. Photo courtesy of the Limerick Leader.
