Dublin Port
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dublin Port is Ireland's biggest sea port. It has both historical and contemporary economic importance. Approximatively two thirds of the Republic of Ireland's port traffic goes via Dublin Port. Recently, the port and it's land were valued at €25 billion - €30 billion.
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[edit] Services
Roll-On Roll-Off ferry services run regularly across the Irish Sea to Holyhead and Mostyn in Wales and Liverpool in England, and in the summer months to Douglas, Isle of Man. The largest car ferry in the world, the Irish Ferries ship Ulysses which can carry up to 2000 passengers, runs on the Holyhead route.
[edit] Dublin Port Company
The port is operated by the semi-state Dublin Port Company. According to the DPC, the port handled 23.5 million tonnes of cargo in 2003, as well as 1,426,000 passengers. That year 7,917 ships docked in the port, including 54 cruise liners carrying 54,000 visitors.
The Dublin Port Company is responsible for pilotage services within Dublin Bay. It also operates three diesel tugboats and two drydocks (located near Alexandra Quay), and provides divers for underwater hull inspections. It licenses private companies to provide stevedoring services.
[edit] History
The medieval port of Dublin was located on the south bank of the river Liffey near Christ Church Cathedral some kilometers upstream from its current location. In 1715, the South Bull Wall was constructed to shelter the entrance to the port. Poolbeg lighthouse at the end of the South Bull Wall was constructed in 1767.
In 1800, a survey of Dublin Bay conducted by Captain William Bligh recommended the construction of the North Bull Wall. After the completion of the wall in 1842, North Bull Island slowly formed as sand built up behind it.
After James Gandon's Custom House was built further downstream in 1791, the port moved downstream to the north bank of the river estuary, where the International Financial Services Centre is currently located. The noise and dirt associated with the port traffic contributed to the decline of the Mountjoy Square area, with many wealthy families moving to the Southside.
With the advent of containerization in the second half of the 20th century, the port moved about a kilometer downstream again to its current location at Alexandra Quay.
