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Image Credit: Belfast Harbour
Belfast Harbour has announced plans to invest £90 million in upgrading its facilities to support cruise tourism and the wind energy industry. This is part of a broader £300 million development strategy over the next five years.
The harbour encourages cruise operators to use Belfast as a home port—a starting and finishing point for voyages—rather than just a single-day stopover. To achieve this, it plans to:
The cruise terminal could be relocated to a new site on Airport Road West, which has already been approved for planning.
Complete the new facility by late 2027 or early 2028.
This move is expected to attract more cruise liners, building on the 150 cruise ships that visited Belfast last year and brought 260,000 passengers and crew to the city.
Belfast Harbour chief executive Joe O'Neill said: "Part of our ambition is to do what are called turnaround cruises.
"That's where people come here, they board, they do a seven-day cruise and return.
"To cater for that segment of the market we need more substantial facilities, an airport type terminal."
Mr O'Neill said there were increased opportunities in the sector with some major offshore wind farms being planned off the Irish coast.
"We envisage about 30 different windfarm projects over the next 10 years or so in our natural trading hinterland," he said.
"We've got some existing capacity but we want to enhance that."
Relocating the cruise terminal will also free up valuable space to expand the harbour’s marshalling area for wind turbines, a critical component for supporting offshore wind farm projects planned along the Irish coast.
Legal Changes Needed for Future Growth
Currently, Belfast Harbour's investments are funded through retained earnings, as its legal status as a public corporation limits its ability to borrow. Debt incurred by the harbour would count toward Stormont’s capital budget, creating financial constraints.
To overcome this, the harbour seeks reclassification as a private corporation, allowing it to secure external funding for larger projects. This reclassification would require legislative changes, including:
Reducing the role of the Infrastructure Minister in appointing board members.
Aligning its governance structure with similar legal reforms seen in Scottish ports.
The Department of Infrastructure has initiated a consultation process to address these potential changes.
Belfast Harbour’s ambitious plans aim to position it as a hub for sustainable tourism and renewable energy, driving economic growth and infrastructure development. By upgrading its facilities and pursuing legal reforms, the harbour seeks to solidify its role in Northern Ireland’s clean energy transition and enhance Belfast’s reputation as a premier destination for cruise tourism.
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