2.6.1 Port of Waterford Company

2.6 Ports of National Significance (Tier 2)

Between them, these two ports handled 8% of total tonnage through Irish ports in 2011, and they enjoy good road and rail connectivity. Both ports offer services in the higher-value unitised sectors (LoLo in Waterford and RoRo in Rosslare) that support competitive conditions within those sectors by providing an alternative to the two larger unitised ports of Dublin and Cork.

National Ports Policy also identifies a second tier of ports, Ports of National Significance (Tier 2). These are ports that:

• are responsible for at least 2.5% of overall tonnage through Irish ports;

• have the clear, demonstrable potential to handle higher volumes of unitised traffic, and

The Government is committed to acting to ensure that both the Port of Waterford and Rosslare Europort achieve their full potential.

• have the existing transport links to serve a wider, national marketplace beyond their immediate region.

Arising from consideration of the recently completed study of the Port of Waterford (see section 2.6.1), and the external advice commissioned by the Department in relation to Rosslare Europort (see section 2.6.2), the Government will publish a pathway for these two ports of Ports of National Significance (Tier 2) to achieve their full potential.

Two ports meet these requirements: the Port of Waterford Company and Rosslare Europort.

Bantry Bay is responsible for 11.9% of all liquid bulk handled by Irish ports, and 3.1% of all tonnage handled at Irish ports, but is not included as a Port of National Significance (Tier 2). This is due to the unique nature of its business, which is specifically focused on oil transhipment and storage. Furthermore, Bantry Bay does not have the transportation links or corporate governance structures needed to develop as a port that serves national transport needs beyond its immediate region.

2.6.1 Port of Waterford Company The port of Waterford is the fourth largest of the State commercial port companies in terms of total tonnage handled, and the fifth largest if Rosslare Europort is included. The port offers both LoLo and bulk services. In terms of LoLo traffic, the port is the smallest of the three LoLo ports, handling approx. 8% of total LoLo traffic in 2011 (IMDO, 2012a). It enjoys excellent connectivity to both the national road and rail networks.

In addition to meeting the above criteria, the Port of Waterford and Rosslare Europort also meet the European Commission’s criteria for inclusion in the comprehensive network under the TEN-T proposal (see section 2.4). These are ports that, while not enjoying the same degree of connectivity as the core network, are still an integral part of the pan-European transportation network.

Table 2.7: Port of Waterford Company overview

	2000*	2010	2011
Tonnage (’000)	1,943	1,451	1,383
	3,998	6,966
Operating Profit (€’000)	963	-247	-236
	-975	-574
Employees	15	38**	35**

• 2000 was the first full financial year as a commercial port company

** 2010 and 2011 employee figures include those employed in Waterford Container Terminal Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company since 2001.