Port of Cork Secures EU funding

[Collision-course]

The Port of Cork has been successful in securing funding from the EU's Trans European Networks fund and the Connect Europe Fund.
In short this means new infrastructure for the port and new Ro/Ro routes in the near to medium term.

http://www.portofcork.ie/index.cfm/page/newsarchive/id/132


EU Funding Endorses Port of Cork Plans for Development
EU Funding Endorses Port of Cork Plans for Development
Monday 06 January 2014
PRESS RELEASE
EU Funding Endorses Port of Cork Plans for Development
Following a successful funding procedure, the Port of Cork has been awarded funding by the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The Port of Cork, described as a future Core Network port by TEN-T, plays a key strategic role in the movement of goods to and from the UK and Continental Europe. This funding will assist in ensuring the Port of Cork meets future connectivity needs and will support the development of the wider regional and national economy which is of key importance to Cork.
It is anticipated that in the first quarter of 2014 and following public consultation, the Port of Cork will lodge a planning application to An Bord Pleanala for the future development of port facilities in Ringaskiddy.
The proposed developments are the first phase of the Port of Cork's Strategic Development Plan Review (2010), the core principles of which were endorsed in the National Ports Policy launched in 2013. This Policy also identified the continued commercial development of the Port of Cork Company as a key strategic objective.
Speaking about the proposed developments and the recently secured funding, Mr Denis Healy, Manager Engineering Services, Port of Cork said: "This TEN-T funding endorses the Port of Cork's plans for future development and securing connectivity for the region. The general objective of the TEN-T is to modernise transport infrastructure and this objective sits in line with the Port of Cork's need to improve and ensure future port facilities."
He continued: "The funding will go towards the achievement of the required statutory consents and the preparation of designs for developments, primarily at Ringaskiddy, but also at Marino Point and Tivoli. It also opens up the opportunity for further EU supports for the implementation phase of the project under the new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)."
The Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-T EA), established by the European Commission, is responsible for managing the technical and financial implementation of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) programme, one of the most important means of infrastructure funding.
Its mission is to support the European Commission and TEN-T project managers and promoters, by ensuring the technical and financial management of the projects and the successful implementation of the TEN-T Programme.

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[ccs]

Looks promising. Cork-Spain on the cards soon?

[Matt73]

and Cork-Bristol for Stena Line and an end to Rosslare-Fishguard?

Matt

[HSS]

Looks promising. Cork-Spain on the cards soon?

Maybe.....but which ferry company would take it on??

[Collision-course]

Well , rumor has it that Irish Ferries has been talking to Tallink recently , Tallink are trying to secure charters / sales for a number of cruise ferries to reduce their operating costs , any of those would be more than able for Cork - Spain , unless Irish Ferries are looking to replace the troublesome Oscar Wilde . Having said that I am aware that Irish Ferries are not too keen on the Motorways of the Seas fund as they see the parameters of the scheme as too restrictive , in the event Irish Ferries did have a go (and this is speculation on my part) then I could see them forgoing the MOTS funding and operating on their own terms from from Cork to either Santander or Bilbao.
You will notice in that press release a mention of a core network of ports , interestingly in that network of core ports for Ireland there are 3 Dublin , Belfast and Cork (TEN covers Ireland North and South as 1 island network) no mention of Rosslare in there at all.

[larry]

has the oscar wilde been particularly troublesome for them?

[Collision-course]

Oscar Wilde has had 2 fires during its time with Irish Ferries and has gone technical on a number of occasions , She also throws up extra costs when undergoing annual drydocking nearly every year now , operationally Oscar Wilde does not cause that much trouble , but she is 30 years old next year and there is a lot of miles on her engines , Irish Ferries has a reputation for being savage in how they control their operating costs (its how they have survived 2 recessions) and Oscar running up big maintenance bills will not do her any favors in the ICG boardroom , especially as she is reaching a stage in her career where a lot of money will need to be spent to keep her in good running order.
I suspect Oscar Wilde also has the same problem that Fastnet Lines Julia (another ex Color Line ship) had in that her configuration may not suit the needs of the French routes and may be hurting the routes financial performance , as configured she just has too much passenger space and is a bit shy on vehicle space , a better unit cost price per vehicle carried could be achieved in bring in a ship with more lanemeters and a little less passenger space , the majority of cruise ferries built since the year 2000 would have been built this way , and Tallink have several ferries that would be far better suited to the Rosslare - France routes than Oscar Wilde , they would also be cheaper to maintain (as they are far younger) and are more fuel economical than ships of Oscar Wildes generation.
While Irish Ferries is unlikely to be talking to Tallink about the weather , since neither company has said anything the above is all speculation.