Advertisement

Port of Cork Trade Traffic Dips in 2020

The Port of Cork has reported that total traffic through the Port was down two per cent to 9.2 million tonnes in 2020.

The dip in trade traffic is a direct result of the challenges posed by Covid 19 and the cancellation of cruise calls to Cork in particular.

Despite these challenges, overall container traffic through the Port of Cork reached 250,000 TEUs, an increase of four per cent.

The Port attributes the strong performance in this area to several drivers, chief amongst them a demand from customers for direct routes, resulting in the introduction of several new container services.

In April 2020, CLdN Ro-Ro SA commenced a new weekly freight service between Cork and Zeebrugge.

This route subsequently increased to twice weekly, highlighting the positive demand for direct, unaccompanied freight links to the EU, as shippers look to avoid the uncertainty surrounding the UK land bridge as consequence of Brexit.

A further new route was established in June 2020, when Independent Container Line (ICL) commenced a new weekly direct service from Cork to USA, giving Ireland its first direct container service to the USA in many years.

Unfortunatley, Covid 19 impacted heavily on the Port’s tourism related activities, with Brittany Ferries services to the continent decreasing sharply and only two cruise ship calls completed, compared to over a hundred calls in the previous year.

The outlook for a return to cruise activities in particular remains poor and will remain so until the worst of the pandemic has past and confidence in that sector can start to rebuild.

Other areas of Port traffic, such as liquid bulk and break bulk decreased marginally however these areas are set to return in 2021.

Ships Montly - January 2024

Ships Monthly July issue out now

SHIPS MONTHLY July  2025 The July 2025 issue of Ships Monthly is out now, and is packed with all the usual news and outstanding articles...
Advertisement

Related articles

Ships Monthly July issue out now

SHIPS MONTHLY July  2025 The July 2025 issue of Ships Monthly is out now, and is packed with all...

Damen delivers ASD Tug 3010 ICE to Sundsvall Hamn

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered an ASD Tug 3010 ICE to Sweden’s Sundsvall Hamn (Port of Sundsvall). The...

Ocean Network Express latest newbuilding ONE Singapore joins fleet

Ocean Network Express (“ONE”) cdelebrated the naming of ONE Singapore, the sixth vessel in a series of 20...

VARD Ships Lead on Cyber Resilience and Sustainability

VARD, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group and one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of...