Glenn Carr
General Manager Rail Freight & Rosslare Europort
Brexit, freight, and wind energy driving progress at Rosslare Europort
Emma Dunphy interviewed Glenn Carr, General Manager of Rail Freight & Rosslare Europort, to gain an insight into the current and future developments and opportunities for Rosslare Europort and County Wexford Q: Tell us about the Port of Rosslare? What are its main characteristics? A: Rosslare Europort is the closest geographical port to Europe and is the fourth largest port in Ireland in terms of overall tonnage handled, and the State’s second largest roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) traffic and passenger port. The port is operated as a division of Iarnród Éireann, which is the Port Authority for Rosslare Europort, and is just over 90 minutes from Dublin. With excellent road, rail and sea connectivity, Rosslare Europort can expertly handle roll on- roll off freight and passengers, agricultural and trade vehicles, bulk cargo, oversize loads, cruise ships, wind turbines, and other offshore renewable energy facilities.
INSIDE WEXFORD BUSINESS | PAGE 10
Rosslare Europort offers a comprehensive service, including mooring, stevedoring and passenger-car / freight check-in for RoRo shipping lines. The port has a fleet of Tugmasters service, fork-lift trucks, tractors, and other handling equipment to cater for nonstandard RoRo freight. Rosslare Europort is Ireland’s number one port for direct Ro-Ro services to Europe with 30+ weekly services operating to and from Rosslare with Brittainy Ferries, Stena Line, and DFDS to the ports of Bilbao, Cherbourg, and Dunkirk. The port also offers 54 weekly services to and from Rosslare to the ports of Pembroke and Fishguard in the UK with Irish Ferries and Stena Lines.
equipment, etc. to protect our staff and operations. Great credit for this is down to the staff of the port, shipping lines, haulage companies, and the State agency staff working at the port. Financially, this has brought added cost to our business, but also sizable loss of revenue with the travel restriction on passenger services. As we move through 2021 and the vaccine rollout, we are very much looking forward to welcoming our passengers back and are excited about the opportunity to grow this market, as we have seen with freight through the additional new services we have operating now at the port.
Brexit has brought challenges to Rosslare Port as well as all industries across Ireland. Do you think that Brexit may also have brought opportunities? Brexit has brought uncertainty, risk, significant additional administration, and cost to the supply chain in Ireland. For me, it is quite simple to avoid by going direct from Ireland to other member states of the EU. With Rosslare being the closest port to Europe, there are considerable benefits for the shipping lines to operate out of the port.
Covid-19 has had a major impact on the activities of Rosslare Europort and provided many unforeseen challenges. How have you dealt with these challenges? Do you feel that you have adapted well?
We worked closely with several shipping lines in trying to convince them to come to Rosslare and demonstrated the opportunities that Rosslare could offer. The market was clear that it wanted and needed more direct services and connections to the EU and to avoid the Landbridge. It has been terrific to see Brittainy Ferries, Stena Line, and DFDS step up with both the increase in capacity but, more importantly, the increase in frequency. The new and additional services out of Rosslare have given real choice and alternatives for industry across all sectors in Ireland and have been hugely welcomed by all, enabling Rosslare to become a port of National significance.
The Covid pandemic has affected us all in so many ways. Our priority was to keep our colleagues and customers of the port safe. Like many organisations, overnight we had to change our operations and how we worked, while, at the same time, ensure that the port remained fully operational so that the supply chains could be protected in and out of the country.
Brexit has had a significant impact on the port, both positive and negative. UK freight through the port has declined by over 30% to date. However, our Continental freight has increased by a phenomenal +440% and, overall, freight through the port is up +60%, which is a terrific story against the challenges the industry has faced in 2020 and 2021.
In Ireland, the various stakeholders in our industry have collectively come together and worked in a collaborative way with the support of Government and all key State agencies. At a Rosslare level, we introduced many new working protocols, procedures, testing,
Rosslare Europort worked with all stakeholders through 2019 and 2020 ensuring that all Brexit plans were put in place. Huge efforts and planning were put in place, which saw additional resources recruited, new border check facilities, new traffic management systems, ship
