Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Extra information
Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
See also:
YouTube Video
For more information on this release:
E-mail: transport@cso.ie Noreen Dorgan +353 21 453 5260 Brendan Curtin +353 21 453 5120
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-6380
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Statistics of Port Traffic

2016

Category of goods20152016change
 '000 tonnes'000 tonnes
Liquid bulk12,43811,274-9.4%
Dry bulk15,86615,937+0.4%
Lift-on/lift-off6,9837,230+3.5%
Roll-on/roll-off13,90714,884+7.0%
Break bulk & other goods1,4721,387-5.8%
Total50,66650,712+0.1%

Irish ports handled 50.7 million tonnes of goods in 2016

Statistics of port traffic 2016 Figure 1
go to full release

Irish ports handled 50.7 million tonnes of goods in 2016, an increase of 46,000 tonnes when compared with 2015. Goods forwarded amounted to 17.0 million tonnes in 2016, a fall of 0.4% compared to the previous year, while goods received increased by 0.3% to 33.7 million tonnes. See table 4.

The tonnage of goods handled rose in three categories with increases in roll-on/roll-off (+7.0%), lift-on/lift-off (+3.5%) and dry bulk (+0.4%). The tonnage of goods handled fell in the remaining categories with liquid bulk and break bulk and other goods decreasing by 9.4% and 5.8% respectively. See table 4 and graph.

The annual analysis also shows that

  • The number of vessels arriving annually in Irish ports increased by 5.2% to 12,880 in 2016, and the total gross tonnage of these vessels rose by 2.9% to 238.4 million tonnes. See table 1.
  • Goods received accounted for two-thirds (66.5%) of the total tonnage of goods handled in 2016, the same proportion as in 2015. See table 4.
  • Of the total weight of goods handled in 2016, dry bulk accounted for 31.4%, roll-on/roll-off 29.4%, liquid bulk 22.2%, lift-on/lift-off 14.3% and break bulk 2.7%.
  • The routes between Dublin and three UK ports – Holyhead, Liverpool and Milford Haven were the busiest routes for inward movement of goods in 2016.  The Dublin-Holyhead and Dublin-Liverpool routes were also the busiest routes in terms of goods forwarded. See tables 10A and 10B.
  • In 2016 a total of 2.7 million passengers used Irish ferry ports. Dublin port handled almost two thirds of all passengers and the busiest route was Dublin-Holyhead. See table 11.
  • A total of 209 cruise ships with more than 222,000 passengers visited Ireland in 2016. See tables 12 and 13.
Table 1: Number of arrivals and gross tonnage of vessels, 2011 - 2016
                  
Port2011  2012  2013  2014  2015 2016
NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000
Arklow-- -- 913 -- -- --
Bantry Bay301,122 372,264 11650 8455 14592 4146
Castletownbere1726 1727 1525 1329 1542 1443
Cork1,27416,728 1,25215,540 1,28016,766 1,18416,942 1,17418,787 1,12018,102
Drogheda184447 274717 314808 376966 384980 379995
Dublin6,767137,448 6,624140,394 6,651142,372 7,040156,718 7,106164,806 7,665171,539
Dundalk5199 3167 3471 3272 3984 3168
Dun Laoghaire1823,465 1723,378 2084,085 1573,083 -- --
Galway158549 142461 144459 161504 157493 167537
Greenore86408 103343 93423 116526 118735 131682
Killybegs90326 58379 64421 72555 56588 53465
Kilrush-- 12 12 -- -- --
Kinsale3789 4194 48 -- 717 1129
New Ross131159 102118 122302 114281 94239 92223
Rosslare1,79151,260 1,71251,104 1,68333,116 1,69233,492 1,69533,460 1,70132,880
Shannon Foynes6809,130 7348,018 7067,922 6626,904 7618,385 93610,179
Sligo2042 1430 1632 1222 1325 1632
Tralee Fenit15148 19169 17162 19187 21191 20187
Waterford4262,174 3701,728 4251,947 4202,090 4372,092 3762,042
Wicklow56133 4298 70174 56129 96175 114203
Youghal6441 6552 7362 7058 5548 5044
Total12,059223,795 11,810224,983 11,940209,821 12,204223,014 12,242231,741 12,880238,397
Table 2: Number of arrivals and gross tonnage of vessels classified by type of vessel, 2016
PortVessel type Total
Liquid bulk Dry bulk Container Specialised General Passenger 
NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000
Arklow-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Bantry Bay4146----------4146
Castletownbere--1336------171443
Cork3364,5551891,5792583,182773,455174478864,8541,12018,102
Drogheda25663771----317858--379995
Dublin4744,123801,2758827,640722,6476,048151,4971094,3567,665171,539
Dundalk-- -- -- -- 3168 -- 3168
Dun Laoghaire-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Galway11539352144--------167537
Greenore--68485--75156145--131682
Killybegs------2193191001327253465
Kilrush--------------
Kinsale--1129--------1129
New Ross--92223--------92223
Rosslare--------1,70132,880--1,70132,880
Shannon Foynes1721,3412966,108--12144562,716--93610,179
Sligo--1632--------1632
Tralee Fenit--------20187--20187
Waterford--328100785--2651,01882103762,042
Wicklow--718----107185--114203
Youghal--------5044--5044
Total1,12610,625 86410,030 1,24011,607 1896,260 9,244190,175 2179,700 12,880238,397
Table 3: Number of arrivals and gross tonnage of vessels classified by vessel size class, 2016
PortVessel size class (tonnes) Total
100-4,999 5,000-7,999 8,000-19,999 20,000-39,999 40,000-79,999 >=80,000 
NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000 NumberGross tonnage '000
Arklow00 -- -- -- -- -- 00
Bantry Bay-- -- -- 389 157 -- 4146
Castletownbere1443 -- -- -- -- -- 1443
Cork5151,492 78580 2142,261 1494,059 1447,348 202,363 1,12018,102
Drogheda378990 16 -- -- -- -- 379995
Dublin6912,361 1,2928,630 2,21534,981 2,02555,995 1,42367,449 192,124 7,665171,539
Dundalk3168 -- -- -- -- -- 3168
Dun Laoghaire-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Galway162511 526 -- -- -- -- 167537
Greenore91232 27182 567 8200 -- -- 131682
Killybegs2587 18114 335 7229 -- -- 53465
Kilrush00 -- -- -- -- -- 00
Kinsale1129 -- -- -- -- -- 1129
New Ross92223 -- -- -- -- -- 92223
Rosslare3043 -- 7177,845 95424,992 -- -- 1,70132,880
Shannon Foynes4851,470 101619 2162,546 782,539 502,449 6555 93610,179
Sligo1632 -- -- -- -- -- 1632
Tralee Fenit12 534 14152 -- -- -- 20187
Waterford237690 120904 12174 6151 -- 1122 3762,042
Wicklow114203 -- -- -- -- -- 114203
Youghal5044 -- -- -- -- -- 5044
Total2,9438,520 1,64711,095 3,39648,061 3,23088,255 1,61877,303 465,164 12,880238,397
Table 4: Tonnage of goods handled classified by category of traffic, 2008 - 2016
         ‘000
Category of traffic200820092010201120122013201420152016
Goods received
Liquid bulk10,9379,9069,5519,2129,7949,0438,5759,7299,117
Dry bulk 11,9908,78910,36410,35411,24612,0129,34511,94911,831
Lift-on/lift-off traffic4,9123,7673,6563,3183,4913,3053,6033,8143,947
Roll-on/roll-off traffic7,0156,0526,7286,5276,2346,5227,0117,3917,998
Break bulk and all other goods1,196484413427427521550757852
Total 36,04928,99830,71229,83831,19131,40329,08333,63833,744
          
Goods forwarded         
Liquid bulk2,3792,1952,4682,5923,6232,4992,7702,7092,157
Dry bulk 3,9152,3963,0713,5783,7963,9365,7833,9184,106
Lift-on/lift-off traffic3,0332,8922,8002,9933,2252,9003,0423,1693,283
Roll-on/roll-off traffic5,0654,8765,5295,5405,3715,6236,0946,5166,886
Break bulk and all other goods640480491538443361711715535
Total 15,03112,83914,35915,24016,45815,31918,40017,02816,967
          
Total goods handled         
Liquid bulk13,31512,10012,01911,80413,41711,54111,34512,43811,274
Dry bulk 15,90511,18513,43513,93215,04215,94815,12815,86615,937
Lift-on/lift-off traffic7,9456,6596,4576,3116,7166,2046,6466,9837,230
Roll-on/roll-off traffic12,08010,92812,25612,06611,60512,14513,10413,90714,884
Break bulk and all other goods1,8369649049658708831,2611,4721,387
Total 51,08141,83645,07145,07847,64946,72247,48350,66650,712
Table 5A: Tonnage of goods received classified by category of traffic and region of trade, 2016
      ‘000
Category of trafficRegion of tradeTotal
Great Britain & Northern IrelandOther EUNon-EU1Other ports2Coastal trade
Liquid bulk      
Liquefied gas471862376
Crude oil1671532,737312-3,369
Oil products3,2321,031115225824,981
Other liquid bulk goods3150280302291690
Total3,5961,4822,8885655869,117
       
Dry bulk      
Ores-531-3,741-4,272
Coal124131871,396-2,009
Agricultural products2751,3062761,536513,445
Other dry bulk goods31521,596195145172,106
Total4393,8476586,8186911,831
       
Lift-on/lift-off traffic      
20 ft containers91634364738
40 ft containers2492,498118732,848
Other containers0337--24361
Total3403,4691493313,947
       
Roll-on/roll-off traffic      
Road goods vehicles3,010162---3,171
Trade vehicles3614671-190
Unaccompanied trailers3,639998-0-4,637
Total6,6841,30671-7,998
       
Break bulk and other goods      
Forestry products1021002121-245
Iron and steel products542121690291
Other general cargo31320378139316
Total169516115439852
       
Total11,22810,6183,6837,52069433,744
1 Trade with ports in European countries that are not members of the E.U.
2 Trade with ports in Non-European countries
3 A small amount of data which cannot be coded to individual traffic categories has been included under 'Other' goods.
Table 5B: Tonnage of goods forwarded classified by category of traffic and region of trade, 2016
      ‘000
Category of trafficRegion of tradeTotal
Great Britain & Northern IrelandOther EUNon-EU1Other ports2Coastal trade
Liquid bulk
Liquefied gas52-36144
Crude oil947-3938133
Oil products1,145116-1655531,980
Other liquid bulk goods3----00
Total1,160165-2395932,157
       
Dry bulk      
Ores19217119--355
Coal------
Agricultural products1226---38
Other dry bulk goods31,1772,021204242883,713
Total1,2092,264322242884,106
       
Lift-on/lift-off traffic      
20 ft containers452440143306
40 ft containers5591,977118242,579
Other containers0384--14398
Total6042,605132413,283
       
Roll-on/roll-off traffic      
Road goods vehicles2,981181-013,163
Trade vehicles0001-2
Unaccompanied trailers3,147573-003,721
Total6,1287550226,886
       
Break bulk and other goods      
Forestry products11670-24
Iron and steel products12094-917240
Other general cargo3152060743271
Total14630671560535
       
Total9,2476,09633031298216,967
1 Trade with ports in European countries that are not members of the E.U.
2 Trade with ports in Non-European countries
3 A small amount of data which cannot be coded to individual traffic categories has been included under 'Other' goods.
Table 5C: Total tonnage of goods handled classified by category of traffic and region of trade, 2016
      ‘000
Category of trafficRegion of tradeTotal
Great Britain & Northern IrelandOther EUNon-EU1Other ports2Coastal trade
Liquid bulk
Liquefied gas52206384120
Crude oil1762002,737351383,502
Oil products4,3771,1471151871,1356,960
Other liquid bulk goods3150280302291691
Total4,7551,6472,8888051,17811,274
       
Dry bulk      
Ores197481193,741-4,626
Coal124131871,396-2,009
Agricultural products2881,3322761,536513,483
Other dry bulk goods31,3293,6173991693055,819
Total1,6486,1119806,84235615,937
       
Lift-on/lift-off traffic      
20 ft containers13687932061,044
40 ft containers8084,47412105275,427
Other containers0721--38760
Total9446,07415125727,230
       
Roll-on/roll-off traffic      
Road goods vehicles5,991343-016,335
Trade vehicles3614672-192
Unaccompanied trailers6,7851,571-008,357
Total12,8122,06172214,884
       
Break bulk and other goods      
Forestry products1131072821-269
Iron and steel products174306161717532
Other general cargo328409781951586
Total31582212258691,387
       
Total20,47516,7144,0147,8321,67750,712
1 Trade with ports in European countries that are not members of the E.U.
2 Trade with ports in Non-European countries
3 A small amount of data which cannot be coded to individual traffic categories has been included under 'Other' goods.
Table 6: Details of roll-on/roll-off traffic handled by port, 2016
PortPassenger cars, motorcycles and accompanying trailers/caravansPassenger busesTrade vehicles1Freight vehicles/trailers2
Number Number NumberTonnes '000 LoadedEmpty
   NumberTonnes '000Number
Received
Cork12,263 40 46,89159 3061747
Dublin257,651 4,708 108,795105 482,4886,90924,360
Dun Laoghaire- - -- ---
Rosslare134,892 1,766 21,95826 59,5608821,632
Total404,806 6,514 177,734190 542,3547,80826,039
           
Forwarded      
Cork11,554 40 1,1732 371727
Dublin237,199 6,074 1,0770 462,2575,65394,895
Dun Laoghaire- - -- ---
Rosslare133,294 1,772 1010 70,2271,224909
Total382,047 7,886 2,3512 532,8556,88495,831
           
Total      
Cork23,817 80 48,15460 6772474
Dublin494,850 10,782 109,872105 944,74512,562119,255
Dun Laoghaire- -  - ---
Rosslare268,186 3,538 22,05926 129,7872,1072,541
Total786,853 14,400 180,085192 1,075,20914,692121,870
1 Vehicles imported or exported
2 Includes data on (a) road goods vehicles and accompanying trailers (b)( unaccompanied road goods trailers and semi trailers and
  (c) unaccompanied caravans and other road, agricultural and industrial trailers
Table 7: Details of lift-on/lift-off traffic handled by port, 2016
          
PortLoaded units Empty units Total units
NumberTEU's1Tonnes '000 NumberTEU's1 NumberTEU's1
Received         
Cork46,05979,799917 13,01625,649 59,075105,448
Dublin177,431312,6532,904 12,71524,387 190,146337,039
Waterford5,88511,469126 4,2889,630 10,17321,099
Total229,375403,9213,947 30,01959,666 259,394463,586
         
Forwarded         
Cork45,33085,594972 13,53218,819 58,862104,413
Dublin104,728194,5502,158 79,076132,141 183,804326,690
Waterford8,03017,822153 2,6704,319 10,70022,141
Total158,088297,9663,283 95,278155,278 253,366453,243
         
Total         
Cork91,389165,3931,889 26,54844,468 117,937209,861
Dublin282,159507,2025,062 91,791156,527 373,950663,729
Waterford13,91529,291279 6,95813,949 20,87343,240
Total387,463701,8867,230 125,297214,943 512,760916,829
1 TEU Twenty-foot equivalent unit = 1360 cubic feet
Table 8A: Tonnage of goods received and forwarded classified by port and region of trade, 2016
      ‘000
PortRegion of tradeTotal
Great Britain & Northern IrelandOther EUNon-EU1Other ports2Coastal trade
Goods received 
Arklow------
Bantry Bay113--72-185
Castletownbere--46--46
Cork3301,5962,878918155,737
Drogheda6848925198609
Dublin9,4724,67322664316315,177
Dundalk529--437
Dun Laoghaire------
Galway443--413460
Greenore4235333182-610
Killybegs617--023
Kilrush------
Kinsale-21--324
New Ross102182583264
Rosslare740214---954
Shannon Foynes3572,0493215,560468,333
Sligo512---17
Tralee Fenit0----0
Waterford43817105118391,122
Wicklow3031---61
Youghal55724--85
Total11,22810,6183,6837,52069433,744
       
Goods forwarded      
Arklow------
Bantry Bay---7438113
Castletownbere------
Cork1,3281,17961735543,240
Drogheda19941023-613
Dublin5,8762,60011932458,672
Dundalk-6---6
Dun Laoghaire------
Galway4287---128
Greenore-3---3
Killybegs-15--016
Kilrush------
Kinsale------
New Ross-6---6
Rosslare985239---1,225
Shannon Foynes7441,325202223232,616
Sligo-15---15
Tralee Fenit-8-9623
Waterford111752-15203
Wicklow6328---91
Youghal------
Total9,2476,09633031298216,967
1 Trade with ports in European countries that are not members of the E.U.
2 Trade with ports in Non-European countries
Table 8B: Total tonnage of goods handled classified by port and region of trade, 2016
      ‘000
PortRegion of tradeTotal
Great Britain & Northern IrelandOther EUNon-EU1Other ports2Coastal trade
Arklow------
Bantry Bay113--14638298
Castletownbere--46--46
Cork1,6582,7752,8841,0915708,977
Drogheda267899262281,223
Dublin15,3487,27334667520823,849
Dundalk535--443
Dun Laoghaire------
Galway46129--413588
Greenore4235633182-613
Killybegs632--038
Kilrush------
Kinsale-21--324
New Ross102242583270
Rosslare1,725454---2,179
Shannon Foynes1,1013,3745235,58136910,949
Sligo526---31
Tralee Fenit08-9623
Waterford53993107118541,325
Wicklow9260---152
Youghal55724--85
Total20,47516,7144,0147,8321,67750,712
1 Trade with ports in European countries that are not members of the E.U.
2 Trade with ports in Non-European countries
Table 9A: Tonnage of goods received and forwarded classified by port and category of traffic, 2016
      ‘000
PortCategory of trafficTotal
Liquid bulkDry bulkLift-on/lift-offRoll-on/roll-offBreak bulk & other goods
Goods received
Arklow------
Bantry Bay185----185
Castletownbere----4646
Cork3,3851,31691776435,737
Drogheda33408--169609
Dublin4,0171,1982,9047,0134515,177
Dundalk-37---37
Dun Laoghaire------
Galway438---22460
Greenore-412--198610
Killybegs----2323
Kilrush------
Kinsale-24---24
New Ross8256---264
Rosslare---90946954
Shannon Foynes1,0507,217--658,333
Sligo-12--517
Tralee Fenit----00
Waterford-951126-451,122
Wicklow----6161
Youghal----8585
Total9,11711,8313,9477,99885233,744
       
Goods forwarded      
Arklow------
Bantry Bay113----113
Castletownbere------
Cork2,0441199728963,240
Drogheda-483--130613
Dublin-8552,1585,65358,672
Dundalk-6---6
Dun Laoghaire------
Galway-90--38128
Greenore----33
Killybegs----1616
Kilrush------
Kinsale------
New Ross-6---6
Rosslare---1,225-1,225
Shannon Foynes-2,497--1192,616
Sligo-10--515
Tralee Fenit----2323
Waterford-19153-31203
Wicklow-21--7091
Youghal------
Total2,1574,1063,2836,88653516,967
Table 9B: Total tonnage of goods handled classified by port and category of traffic, 2016
      ‘000
PortCategory of trafficTotal
Liquid bulkDry bulkLift-on/lift-offRoll-on/roll-offBreak bulk & other goods
Arklow------
Bantry Bay298----298
Castletownbere----4646
Cork5,4301,4351,889841398,977
Drogheda33891--2991,223
Dublin4,0172,0535,06212,6675023,849
Dundalk-43---43
Dun Laoghaire------
Galway43890--60588
Greenore-412--201613
Killybegs----3838
Kilrush------
Kinsale-24---24
New Ross8262---270
Rosslare---2,133462,179
Shannon Foynes1,0509,714--18410,949
Sligo-21--1031
Tralee Fenit----2323
Waterford-970279-761,325
Wicklow-21--131152
Youghal----8585
Total11,27415,9377,23014,8841,38750,712
Table 10A: Tonnage of goods received classified by port and detailed region of trade for key ports, 2016
         ‘000
Detailed region of tradePortTotal
Bantry BayCorkDroghedaDublinGalwayRosslareShannon FoynesWaterford
Great Britain & Northern Ireland         
Clydeport-1-342---3346
Fishguard-0---691--692
Heysham---270----270
Holyhead---3,257----3,257
Liverpool-2542,645--15-2,689
Milford Haven (inc. Pembroke)-80322,585-3115-2,815
Other ports11322332373446227401,058
Total113330689,47247403574311,127
          
Other EU         
Belgium - Antwerp-2972644811-12315920
Belgium - Zeebrugge--17549--8-574
France - Cherbourg---42-211--253
Netherlands - Rotterdam-70242,387--1161213,330
Spain - Bilbao---270--339311
Spain - Las Palmas------950-950
Sweden - Brofjorden---149--352-501
Other ports-5974428283244976433,043
Total-1,5964894,673432142,0498179,882
          
Non-EU         
Norway-2,607-6--20252,657
Russia-603183--27775598
Other countries-2112138--246300
Total-2,87825226--3211053,555
          
Other ports         
Algeria7213----1122117
Argentina-328-282----610
Brazil------936-936
Columbia------1,318-1,318
Guinea------2,489-2,489
U.S.A.-1161203--43321774
Other countries-46118158--373761,086
Total7291819643--5,5601187,330
          
Coastal trade         
Cork--1163413-2915621
Other ports-157---172463
Total-158163413-4639684
          
Total11855,73760915,1774609548,3331,12232,578
1 The activity of all other Irish ports not listed above amounts to a total of 1,166,000 tonnes
Table 10B: Tonnage of goods forwarded classified by port and detailed region of trade for key ports, 2016
         ‘000
Detailed region of tradePortTotal
Bantry BayCorkDroghedaDublinGalwayRosslareShannon FoynesWaterford
Great Britain & Northern Ireland         
Belfast-46-151--104-300
Felixstowe---51----51
Fishguard-----985--985
Heysham---216----216
Holyhead---2,760----2,760
Immingham-883----22-905
Liverpool---2,379--100-2,479
Other ports-40019931842-518111,487
Total-1,3281995,87642985744119,184
          
Other EU         
Belgium - Antwerp-25248350--94-744
Belgium - Ghent-6200---44-250
Belgium - Zeebrugge-3-230---6240
Finland - Kokkola-11-126----136
France - Cherbourg---60-236--296
France - Dunkerque------319-319
Netherlands - Rotterdam-565311,291--1441412,173
Other ports-341131543873724281,857
Total-1,1794102,600872391,3251756,015
          
Non-EU         
Iceland--2---161-162
Norway-6-119--41-165
Other countries-0-1---22
Total-62119--2022330
          
Other ports         
U.S.A.-165----8-173
Other countries748332--14-130
Total74173332--22-303
          
Coastal trade         
Dublin-137----36-173
Galway-417------417
Other ports381-45--28615386
Total38554-45--32315976
          
Total11133,2406138,6721281,2252,61620316,809
1 The activity of all other Irish ports not listed above amounts to a total of 158,000 tonnes
Table 11: Passengers1 disembarking/embarking classified by port and route, 2016
‘000
PortCountryTotal
Great Britain FranceOther2
FishguardHolyheadLiverpool CherbourgRoscoff
Disembarking     
  Cork--- -41-41
  Dublin-86928 1-1898
  Rosslare285-- 10332-421
  Total28586928 1047311,360
         
Embarking        
  Cork--- -39-39
  Dublin-86824 0-2894
  Rosslare279-- 10536-420
  Total27986824 1057421,352
         
All Passengers        
  Cork--- -79-79
  Dublin -1,73752 1-31,792
  Rosslare565-- 20868-840
  Total5651,73752 20814732,712
1 Excluding cruise passengers on excursion
2 Not precluding other British and French ports
Table 12: Number of cruise ships and passengers by port, 2016
PortsNumber of cruise shipsNumber of passengers
Bantry Bay2174
Castletownbere1134
Cork5789,686
Dublin1109109,884
Dún Laoghaire86,268
Galway41,567
Killybegs136,226
Rosslare1780
Shannon Foynes00
Waterford147,498
Total209222,217
1 Includes passengers embarking in Dublin port
Table 13: Number of cruise ships by month of arrival and passengers, 2016
 Number of cruise shipsNumber of passengers
January1252
February00
March21,671
April42,990
May4153,441
June4236,890
July3134,329
August5460,829
September2524,063
October21,417
November00
December76,335
Total209222,217

Background Notes

Coverage

This release contains the results of an annual analysis of activity at Irish ports in 2016. The data is compiled from returns made by Scheduled Harbour Authorities, State Companies and a number of other harbours as outlined below:

 

Scheduled harbour authorities

Arklow harbour commissioners

Bantry Bay harbour commissioners

Kilrush town council

Kinsale harbour commissioners

Sligo harbour commissioners

Tralee and Fenit pier and harbour commissioners

Youghal town council

 

State Companies

Drogheda port company

Dublin port company

Dundalk port company

Dun Laoghaire harbour company

Galway harbour company

New Ross port company

Port of Cork company

Port of Waterford company

Shannon Foynes port company

Wicklow port company

 

Other harbours

Castletownbere fishery harbour centre

Greenore port

Killybegs fishery harbour centre

Rosslare Europort

 

As the figures (detailed in tables 1-15) have been rounded independently there may be slight discrepancies between the sum of the constituent items and the totals shown.  A ‘0’ indicates a value that has been rounded to zero, whereas a ‘-’ indicates no activity.

 

Definitions

Tonnage of Goods:

This includes the weight of immediate packaging material but excludes, in the case of containerised traffic, the weight of containers.  The tonnage of goods for roll-on/roll-off traffic may be based on estimated coefficients for certain vehicle categories. The export of live cattle on the hoof is excluded from the tonnage of goods in this release.

 

Region of Trade:

Coastal - Trade between Irish ports excluding Northern Ireland.

Great Britain & Northern Ireland - Includes Isle of Man and other British crown dependencies.

Other EU - Trade with ports in European countries that are members of the E.U. excluding Ireland and Great Britain.  Outermost regions of Member States (e.g. the Canary Islands) are included.

Non EU - Trade with ports in European countries that are not members of the E.U.

Other Ports - Trade with ports in Non European countries.

 

Gross Tonnage of Vessels:

The measure of the overall size of a ship determined in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.

 

Vessel types:

Only the activity of trading vessels, car ferries and other passenger vessels is covered in the series. Only vessels of at least 100 gross tonnes are included.  The following vessels are excluded:

 

–  Fish-catching vessels

–  Fish-processing vessels

–  Vessels for drilling and exploration (exception: Killybegs)

–  Tugs

–  Pusher craft

–  Research and survey vessels

–  Dredgers

–  Naval vessels

–  Vessels used solely for non-commercial purposes

–  Vessels entering the ports for shelter

 

Vessel types are classified according to the International Classification of Ship Types (ICST-COM).  Cruise liners are included where passengers embark or disembark in port.

 

The ship categories included under each vessel type are outlined below:

 

Liquid bulk vessels:

Oil tanker

Chemical tanker

Liquid gas tanker

Tanker barge

Other tanker

 

Dry bulk vessels:

Bulk/oil carrier

Bulk carrer

 

Container vessels:

Full container

 

Specialised vessels:

Barge carrier

Chemical carrier

Irradiated fuel carrier

Livestock carrier

Vehicle carrier

Other specialised carrier

 

General cargo vessels:

Reefer

Ro-ro passenger

Ro-ro container

Other ro-ro container

Combination carrier general cargo/passenger

Combination carrier general cargo/container

Single decker

Multi-decker

 

Passenger vessels:

Cruise liners

Other passenger only vessels

upArrowHide Background Notes

Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/spt/statisticsofporttraffic2016/