The Port of Larne has enjoyed some good news to date in 2009. Despite the general economic downturn, tourist passengers using the port have shown a modest increase over the same period in 2008.
News Release
Our Ref: PR/LHL/09/02- Rev 1 14 September 2009
POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS AT LARNE
The Port of Larne has enjoyed some good news to date in 2009. Despite the general economic downturn, tourist passengers using the port have shown a modest increase over the same period in 2008.
"There’s no doubt that some of the big sporting events in Scotland during May helped," said Managing Director, Keith Millar, "but even before then we were seeing that our tourist numbers were being maintained in the face of the recession. Whether it’s the Sterling versus Euro currency situation or just that people are taking short breaks within the UK rather than further afield, we’re not sure. But there’s a definite positive buzz around the tourist activity so far this year."
Freight traffic through the port has reduced however because of the downturn in the economy.
"Ro-ro freight, in fact all seaborne freight, reflects what is going on generally in the economy," explained Mr Millar, " and unfortunately we all know what direction GDP has gone in the last year or so. Retail is down and particularly heavily hit in Northern Ireland has been construction and manufacturing. Our freight trade, like every other port in the British Isles has suffered because of that."
For the year up to the end of August, the port’s ro-ro freight traffic is down by around 15% on 2008, a drop of around 43,000 units.
Mr Millar remains confident though that the port is well-placed to cater for the upturn when it comes.
"We are still the first choice for ro-ro in Northern Ireland with the haulage industry. Our three routes give the haulier the option of freight-only services or fast ropax ships. There is the choice of travelling with Stena to the North of England, or P&O’s short hop across to Cairnryan or their freight-only service to Troon, which is very conveniently placed for Glasgow."
The port also welcomes the Regional Development Minister’s recent announcement of the preferred route for the dualling of the remainder of the A8 Larne-Belfast road. "It’s great that Roads Service has listened to the port, elected representatives and industry. Dualling of the last 14km from Ballyrickard to Hillhead Road will give the port a high-quality road, appropriate for a Trans-European Network Route.
Mr Millar went on to say "We were very encouraged that the Minister was able to confirm the project is still on track, including the financial contribution from the Irish Government. All we need now is for it to happen sooner rather than later!"
Even though trading conditions are challenging at the moment, the port has lodged a planning application for the extension of its shore-side marshalling area by around 3 acres. The last of the environmental studies are now complete and will be lodged with Planning Service later this month.
As well as its shipping operations, the Port of Larne has been working with a range of partners on the commercial development of its non-operational land. ASDA is the sole tenant of the port’s 100,000ft2 Distribution Centre, situated right beside the port and just off the main A8 road.
"The commercial development of our Business Park concept has been a great success," Keith Millar explained. "Working with several developers, we have re-vitalised what was effectively a brown-field site and now have a hotel within 200metres of the port entrance, two new haulage depots, a metal processing operation and other light industrial units. These all complement our operations and benefit from being located right beside the port."
In addition, the principal developer in the area, McKenzies(NI) Ltd, has secured planning approval for a food retail store, cinema and restaurant scheme. The food retail unit will be a ASDA store. Construction has already started on site and the ASDA store itself will open at Easter next year.
"There’s no doubt we have taken forward the Business Park with an eye to those developments which would complement the port’s activities. But we have also recognised that the town of Larne desperately needs one of the big national food retailers to stop the massive leakage of retail spend out of the town. This project not only does that in the form of ASDA, but it will also produce a cinema and restaurant complex that Larne is seriously lacking."
"2009 is turning out to be just as challenging as we thought it would be," says Mr Millar. "But our core team is very experienced and totally committed to continuing to provide to all our customers here at Larne a quality of service second to none on the Irish Sea.".
Notes to Editors
– The Port of Larne is owned and operated by Larne Harbour Ltd, owned by P&O Ferries Division Holdings Ltd, part of the Dubai World group of companies.
– There are three ro-ro freight routes from Larne
– Larne-Cairnryan ropax and fast ferry operated by P&O Irish Sea
– Larne-Troon conventional freight ferry and seasonal fast ferry
– Larne- Fleetwood conventional freight/ropax ferry operated by Stena Line
Port of Larne traffic volumes 2008
Total Passengers – 893,722
Tourist Vehicles – 230,383
Freight Units – 414,679