Green light for quay extension at Killybegs

A €15m capital works project has been approved to deliver a 120m quay extension at Killybegs, Co Donegal, under Project Ireland 2040.

Marine minister Michael Creed said the contract with ABCO/Fugro JV, was a “very significant investment” for the northwest  that will improve safety conditions by alleviating congestion during the peak fishing season.

Phase one of the Smooth Point project involved removal and disposal of contaminated sediments at a cost of 7m to the region.

This final phase will fund removal of remaining contaminants and construction of the quay wall, due to commence in September and complete in June 2020.

Approving the development, Minister Creed said he had taken into account “unprecedented success” following previous harbour works in 2004 that saw increased fish landings, onshore downstream industries and commercial marine traffic to Killybegs.

Overall landings into Killybegs increased by 48% in volume (105,955 tonnes to 220,046) and by 42% in value (€42m to €100m) during 2007-2017.

Safe berthing

“This major quay wall extension will provide long-term berthing for approximately 10 large pelagic fishing trawlers and will facilitate safe, stern-on berthing for the largest vessels in the Atlantic fleet.”

Minister Creed added it was “government policy” to substantially increase landings into Ireland from all vessels that fish in the waters around Ireland.

“We want to see Ireland become the hub for all the marine activities that can be generated by the sustainable harvesting of these renewable resources in our marine sphere.”

Developing Ireland’s fishery harbour centres, “to attract and handle these landings is a key step in achieving our ambitions in this area, in line with the government’s integrated marine development strategy Harvesting our Ocean Wealth,” remarked Minister Creed.

This project is “testament” to developing the wider seafood sector and is a  commitment to social and economic development of rural coastal communities.  as well as the local fishing industry, Minister Creed said.

When completed the facilities will be “on a par” with the best in Europe.

“Killybegs has seen a marked increase in the number of cruise ships and cargo vessels docking in the harbour over recent years.”

It has also become the “port of choice” for importing wind turbines, he noted.

Acknowledging the challenges ahead such as Brexit, Minister Creed said these “world-class landing facilities” would protect coastal communities and enable the seafood industry “to grow, prosper and facilitate a simultaneous growth of other ancillary marine industries”.

The project was approved under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme and is co-funded by government and the EU.