Dublin Port invests €3.4 million in new refrigerated container infrastructure, boosting cold chain capacity and resilience
11 February 2026
New structures in the Port’s ‘common user area’ create charging points for 140 refrigeration units, supporting trade and improving operational efficiency.
Peter Burke T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment was at Dublin Port today to mark the delivery of new cold chain infrastructure. The Port has signed an eight-year licence agreement with Doyle Shipping Group (DSG) to operate new reefer gantries positioned on four purpose-built steel frames at the DSG container terminal on Alexandra Quay East, also known as the ‘common user area.’
Doyle Shipping Group operates one of three competing LoLo (Lift On Lift Off) terminals in Dublin Port. In 2025, Dublin Port recorded its busiest LoLo year, with 9% growth on 2024 volumes.
This investment in LoLo reefer infrastructure enhances refrigerated container handling at Dublin Port, supporting growing customer demand. It strengthens the Port’s ability to protect temperature-controlled goods – such as dairy products, meat, fish, fruit, beverages or pharma – helping ensure perishable cargo remains cold, or heated, while in Port.
Peter Burke T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment said:
“Many of Ireland’s key exports depend on reliable cold‑chain logistics, particularly the Irish dairy export sector, which reached a record €7.3 billion in 2025, a 14% increase on prior years. The EU remains our largest market, accounting for 38% of dairy exports, with the UK consistently our top single‑country destination. Much of this trade passes through Dublin Port, with multiple daily services directly linking Ireland, the EU and the UK. I welcome the delivery of projects such as this, which help safeguard quality, support exporters and keep trade moving.”
Cormac Kennedy, Head of Commercial and Programme Management Office, Dublin Port Company, said:
“We are delighted to work with Wills Bros, Doyle Shipping Group and our Port team to complete this project. It is one of a number of key projects under way to enhance the customer experience at Dublin Port. We currently have 12 projects on site, with a further 23 across feasibility and design stages projects in train, ranging from Ireland’s largest maritime construction project at Berths 52/53 to operational upgrades such as the recent improvements to electronic signposting across the Port and these reefer facilities.
“Growth in LoLo volumes in recent years has put pressure on land use, so investment of this type helps us stay ahead of demand and support our customers’ growth plans. In recent years, we have invested an average of €60 million annually in capital projects, with €120 million spent in 2025, and ramping up to an average of €175 million in the years ahead.
“As a self-financing organisation, we need to work closely with customers to ensure the capacity is in place to support their growth and that of the wider economy.”
Glen O’Connor CEO at Doyle Shipping Group said:
“Reefer gantries supply safe, continuous electrical power to refrigerated containers during dwell time in port. These new structures are engineered for high‑density stacking (up to five high), reducing land use per unit. Direct EU services into Dublin have increased significantly post‑Brexit, shifting traffic patterns and raising demand for temperature‑controlled capacity.
“We are pleased to offer these additional spaces to customers importing or exporting temperature‑sensitive goods. They also strengthen operational resilience by keeping reefers on‑temperature during adverse weather or sailing disruptions, helping avoid waste and protecting product quality.”