Dublin Port Company revises 3FM project

After an extensive public consultation process, Dublin Port Company (DPC) has unveiled a series of revisions to its 3FM Project, aimed at addressing community concerns and optimizing project functionality.

The 3FM Project at Dublin Port encompasses the creation of Ireland’s largest container terminal, strategically located in front of the ESB’s Poolbeg Power Station. The terminal, with new deeper water berths, is targeting to significantly expand the port’s capacity for handling containerized cargo (600,000 TEU per annum), supporting increased trade volumes and economic growth.

In the original plan, a Lo-Lo (container) storage facility was set to be located on port lands directly south of the Dublin Waste to Energy facility, referred to in the Dublin Port Masterplan as Area O. Under the revised plan, Area O will continue to play an important role in providing RoRo trailer capacity, but on a reduced area.

Namely, a 1.2-acre portion of Area O will be made available to Dublin City Council to facilitate the provision of a District Heating Energy Centre adjacent to the Waste to Energy plant.

The remaining part of Area O lands will be used as a RoRo unaccompanied freight terminal, replacing the originally proposed container stacks with a ground-level, single-height freight trailer area. This non-containerised low-level RoRo freight storage area will not involve any stacking of containers or trailers, nor will any gantry cranes be required, DPC said.

To mitigate visual impact, the trailer terminal will be strategically positioned behind existing structures and hidden from Sandymount Strand. Electric-powered transfer units will be used to move the trailers between Area O and berthside.

All trailers departing from this area will be directed onto a new purpose-built SPAR route, diverting them away from existing roads and onto the Dublin Port Tunnel.

“Large infrastructure projects such as 3FM are complex and challenging and the consultation process is essential in order to achieve the right balance between the interests of the many stakeholders they impact. I believe our revised plans do just that and I want to sincerely thank all of those who contributed to the process,” Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said.

Area L, which is adjacent to the quayside, will now be used as a LoLo container storage facility. Area L had been designated for further development at a later date under Masterplan 2040. However, this proposal brings this plan forward.

Dublin Port Company added that talks are progressing well with Irish Rail with the intention of providing access for all port terminals to rail. The SPAR will enable rapid road shunting of containers from the 3FM Project to these rail intermodal facilities. This rail intermodal initiative is separate to the 3FM Project in itself.