Belfast Harbour Plans £1.3 Billion Expansion Over 25 Years, Creating 5,500 Jobs

Belfast Harbour plans a £1.3 billion (€1.49 billion) expansion over the next 25 years to increase its capacity, driven by forecasts from Haskoning predicting trade volumes will rise from 25 million tonnes to over 31 million tonnes by 2050. This investment aims to accommodate growing trade, especially as Dublin Port faces severe capacity constraints by 2030-2040. The project is expected to create almost 5,500 new construction jobs.

The expansion will occur in three phases. Phase one (2026-2030), costing £313 million, includes a £90 million deepwater cruise and wind energy terminal and a Maritime Skills Academy. Phase two (2030-2040), at £484 million, involves redeveloping Stormont Wharf, expanding container terminals for larger vessels, and implementing shore power. The final phase (2040-2050), costing £578 million, will feature a new terminal on West Bank Road, Belfast’s first land reclamation project in 25 years, and a clean energy hub.

Belfast Harbour currently handles 25% of all seaborne trade for the island of Ireland and 70% for Northern Ireland, with annual trade valued at £26.7 billion, projected to reach £36.2 billion by 2050. Theresa Donaldson, Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, stated the plan provides a clear, long-term vision for growth, while CEO Joe O’Neill emphasized Belfast Harbour’s role in providing needed capacity and becoming the principal maritime gateway on the Dublin–Belfast economic corridor.