Feature, Freight News, Sea


Belfast gets down to work on new deepwater quay

[ April 29, 2025   //   ]

Belfast Harbour is due to begin marine works in late April for a new deepwater terminal, its largest single capital investment project ever. 

The project will see construction of a £90 million dual purpose deepwater quay which will expand the port’s capacity for offshore wind turbine assembly and installation as will as accommodating some of the world’s largest cruise vessels.

Civil engineering contractor Graham Construction has been announced as the main contractor for the initial phase of the build. Stage one of the construction programme is expected to be delivered for the 2028 cruise season. Stage two of the build, anticipated by 2030, will create infrastructure that will allow the port to assemble and install the next generation of floating offshore wind turbines.

The investment is a key deliverable of Belfast Harbour’s Advance Regional Prosperity 2025-29 strategy. Launched earlier this year, the strategy outlines Belfast Harbour’s plans toinvest £208m in significant port improvements and £105m in the ongoing regeneration and development of the Harbour Estate and waterfront.

Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners Dr. Theresa Donaldson said: “As a Trust Port, our primary responsibility is to maintain and develop the Port for the good of everyone in the region, and this project delivers on that mission. It will help us to attract more turnaround cruise calls to Belfast, while also providing a pathway to our longer-term ambitions of facilitating the construction of the next generation of floating offshore windfarms, ultimately helping Northern Ireland and its neighbours to reach their clean energy and net zero targets.”

Chief executive, Joe O’Neill, added: “As offshore wind technology evolves, ports will play an increasingly central role and Belfast Harbour is uniquely placed, through this investment, through our existing facility, our expertise, local supply chain and location to be a key enabler of the power stations of the future in the Irish, Celtic and North Seas.”

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