Warrenpoint Port Ceases Revised Dredging Proposal

WARRENPOINT PORT CEASES REVISED DREDGING PROPOSAL

Warrenpoint Port will no longer pursue proposals to change how it deals with dredged material.

Authorities at the Port had been considering the feasibility of a new placement site in the mouth of Carlingford Lough between Cranfield Point and Greencastle.

The plans will not proceed however, following the initial findings of site surveys.

Clare Guinness, CEO, Warrenpoint Port said:

“Early results from our site characterisation study have shown the proposal would potentially have an unacceptable detrimental impact on the ecology and aquaculture within the lough.

“Throughout the process, we have been clear that should the scientific research identify the potential for such an impact, then the proposal would go no further.

“We are pleased to deliver on this commitment, in our role as conservators of the marine environment, and will immediately cease pursuit of a revised dredging proposal.”

A copy of the findings of the site characterisation study is available to view at www.warrenpointport.com/in-lough-placement.

ENDS

For more information please contact Simon Cunningham, Lighthouse Communications at Simon@lighthouseni.com  or 07731824431.

Notes to editors

• Warrenpoint Port is the second largest port in Northern Ireland and the fifth biggest on the island of Ireland.
• Warrenpoint Harbour Authority was created as a Trust Port by legislation in 1971.
• In 2017, the value of goods moving through Warrenpoint Port was £6.2billion, £164 million of which was direct international trade. The Port handled 3.48 million tonnes

of cargo in 2016 increasing to 3.56 million tonnes in 2017

• The port employs 70 staff directly, but more than 200 people work at the harbour every day.
• In addition to serving the markets in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, the Port deals with imports and exports from countries and regions across the world including to Spain, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine and the Americas.