Warrenpoint Port Route To Receive £88m Investment

Up to £88 million is to be invested in Warrenpoint Port.

Irish Sea freight specialist, Seatruck Ferries, has revealed plans to boost capacity on the Warrenpoint to Heysham route by 30% through deploying two larger freight ferries on the route later this summer.

The four-deck Seatruck Precision and Seatruck Performance will replace the current three-deck vessels, with an 11-time weekly service operated between the ports.

Overall, the move will allow Seatruck to carry 30,000 additional trailers annually on the crossing.

Alistair Eagles, Chief Executive of Seatruck Ferries said: "Adding larger ships to the Warrenpoint route is the next logical step for Seatruck and I have no doubt that it will be very popular providing more unaccompanied trailer space to our growing customer base, as the industry seeks solutions to the ongoing driver shortage.

"The larger vessels underline the need for the Southern Relief Road which will connect Warrenpoint Port directly to the main Belfast-Dublin motorway. Seatruck fully support this key piece of infrastructure."

Clare Guinness, Chief Executive of Warrenpoint Port, said: "This is a significant investment by Seatruck Ferries and is a clear commitment to Warrenpoint Port and the wider Newry, Mourne and Down district, which will directly benefit from the increase in trade."

Sinn Fein's South Down MP Chris Hazzard also welcomed the news.

He said: "This investment is a huge boost to the local economy and the wider district. Not only does it provide sustainability, it should also provide an important boost to business through the port.

"In the context of ongoing uncertainty caused by Brexit, this investment is a very welcome development."

(LM)