Page 42 - Linkline Autumn 2015
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established. However, it is now the constraints of a busy surrounding city and relativity shallow upper river depths that are factors in our move down river to deep water facilities. Being able to accommodate larger vessels is vital if the Port of Cork is to remain competitive. There is an acceleration by shipping companies in the utilisation of larger vessels. Shipping companies must achieve economies of scale for the purpose of surviving and growing their businesses, this is evident when we see new ultra large vessels
coming on-line in recent years. Recently we have seen 400 metre vessels being delivered to shipping lines that have the capacity to load approx. 18,000 TEU. Irish ports’ will most probably never accommodate such huge vessels, however the trickle-down effect will see all vessel sizes increase
in the coming years. This is turn requires that ports like ours respond to
and provide the necessary infrastructure to accommodate these vessels. In doing this, we will sustain our business and strengthen our position as an international gateway for trade. It will future proof the port and ensures
that businesses can continue to engage in trading activity through the port which handles about 4,000 ship movements in the harbour per annum. The recent decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant planning permission for the Ringaskiddy Port redevelopment project in the lower harbour will meet the business needs of the Port of Cork and the economic requirements of the region for years to come. The development, which will involve an investment of approximately 100m, will form an addition to the existing facilities that the port currently operates in Cork and is expected to be operational from early 2018.
Q. Can you give us an overview of the changes that the transport & logistics sector will see with the move?
The present container terminal in Tivoli has limited capacity for the future which will not match projected growth levels. The current terminal is also located within the City limits which can at times suffer traf c congestion problems.
It is our ambition that the development in Ringaskiddy which will be the  rst fully developed “green  eld” site in Ireland for decades will offer an integrated solution for both the port and transport and logisitics sector. We hope to provide a template for a cluster of logistic based operations within and adjacent to the main container terminal, which we feel will assist in reducing the cost to the wider industries that utilise the Port to import and export their goods.
The container terminal itself will operate with the
most updated and modern cargo handling equipment
on the market today, which will enable us to provide
an effective and ef cient service to port users. The new terminal combined with the expected development of the N28 will support a fast turnaround for logistic providers and mainline hauliers that use the port on a daily basis. As a condition of planning the Port must introduce and maintain a “Traf c Mobility Management Plan” for the new port area until the N28 road is fully completed. The mobility plan will include a “vehicle booking system” for all HGVs arriving at the port, we understand that this is
a dramatic departure from the current situation; however such systems have been in place UK terminals for many years and operate very successfully. The fundamentals of such systems aim to control traf c  ows on the approach roads, reduce waiting time for hauliers and increase
the ef ciency of the terminal operations. A recent trial
of such a system in Tivoli container terminal proved
very successful with some hauliers, turnaround time was predictable and hence the haulage company had a much better daily planning pro le.
The Port of Cork Company would hope to achieve Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status in the new container facility at Ringaskiddy. AEO status is primarily a trade facilitation measure. Operators established in
the EU that meet speci c qualifying criteria, may apply for and receive AEO certi cation. The aim of the AEO programme is to enhance security through granting recognition to reliable operators and encouraging best practice at all levels in the international supply chain. The EU AEO programme is one part of a worldwide initiative to secure the “Global Supply Chain”. As trade is vital to economic development, steps taken to secure global trade must not undermine legitimate trade  ows and equal steps must be taken to facilitate legitimate trade in every way possible.
*Indecon International Economic Consultants, 2014
  The CharTered InsTITuTe of LogIsTICs & TransporT 27
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