Dublin Port Company has today released details of the number of passengers facilitated by the five ferry companies operating at Ireland’s largest port in the week of flight cancellations as a result of the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption. Between Thursday, 15th April and yesterday, Wednesday, 21st April, Irish Ferries, Norfolkline, P&O, Seatruck Ferries and Stena Line carried 72,118 passengers on the Dublin to Holyhead and Dublin to Liverpool routes.
Commenting on the increased passenger numbers, Mr. Enda Connellan, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said: “The past week has been the busiest ever for Dublin Port Company’s ferry terminals with over 72,000 passengers moving through Ireland’s largest port following the unprecedented disruption of air traffic. The five ferry companies operating at Dublin Port have worked tirelessly to facilitate the thousands of passengers who sought alternatives to either make or complete their travels by sea. We have a saying in Dublin Port – “we’re here, we’re near and you can depend on us” and certainly the ferry companies operating here at Dublin Port lived up to that saying in the past week.”
Commenting on the role ferry ports played in alleviating the inconvenience of some of the discommoded passengers Mr. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport said: “As an island nation we are hugely dependent on sea and air links with other countries. Last week showed just how important our ports are not only to the movement of goods but also to the movement of people. I’m sure that the 72,000 people who passed through Dublin Port last week would share those sentiments. I would like to commend Dublin Port along with Cork and Rosslare ports and the ferry companies operating there for their flexibility and efficiency in handling what was an unprecedented demand for their services.“
Full trade statistics at Dublin Port for March 2010 (which will include full trade statistics for the first quarter of 2010) will be released next week. Ireland’s largest port has seen monthly trade levels increase year-on-year since December 2009.
Date Published: Thursday 22. of April 2010