The port of Holyhead is projected to remain closed beyond the anticipated reopening date of December 19 due to extensive damage from Storm Darragh, affecting ferry services and parcel deliveries.
Ferry companies have asked customers to rebook online and now fear they will not be able to resume services on Friday as planned.
An average of 33,000 vehicles would come across from Holyhead to Dublin over the Christmas period covering 100,000 passengers, about two thirds by car or coach and one third on foot.
The MV James Joyce hit one of the fenders in Holyhead during the storm. During the next departure from the pier by the MV Ulysses the structure collapsed into the water. A berth sharing arrangement is been planned between Irish Ferries and Stena once the port gets clearance from the engineers.
Rosslare Europort is experiencing an increase of 120pc in freight volumes from Britain amid the scramble to secure alternative routes.
Hauliers have expressed concerns regarding their ability to meet delivery deadlines for Christmas, emphasizing the need for joint efforts between the Irish and Welsh governments to resolve the ongoing issues.
Ger Hyland, Irish Road Haulage Association President, shared “there is significant backlog in Rosslare, Fishguard and Pembroke ports. From our experience and knowledge, we are going to struggle big time next week to get freight delivered in time for the 25th of December.
Stena Line shared “Travel customers are advised to amend their bookings online free of charge or through Stena Line’s contact centre. Stena Line is currently assessing options for additional sailings from Dublin to its ports in Birkenhead and Fishguard as well as from Belfast to Cairnryan and Heysham to assist continuity of trade and passenger flows.”
Minister James Lawless says there is a limit to what he can do, but said he has signed a derogation order on driver hours for the next 14 days, which, he says, will give some leeway to the haulage industry.
There are underwater crews investigating it, and if that comes good, great, but we need to focus in the intervening time on other routes
Holyhead is England’s second busiest port. An Post reported a backlog of 150,000 parcels bound for Ireland, with plans underway to reroute and deliver those parcels through alternative ports and means, including air freight.
