Shannon Estuary Port Information Guide - Harbourmaster.nl

PART III | 7. PORT DESCRIPTION
SHANNON ESTUARY
7.1 GENERAL
The Shannon Estuary is Ireland’s premier deep-water resource, routinely catering for ships up to 200,000
dwt. Shannon Foynes Port Company is responsible for all maritime activities on the estuary, which
covers some 500km2 of navigable water. The Company manages all pilotage, ship movements and
marine safety as well as maintaining and developing port infrastructure, handling equipment, landside
storage and distribution facilities. SFPC is the second largest Irish port facility, handling over10 million
tonnes of cargo every year, or 23% of national port traffic. SFPC was the first port facility in Ireland and
the UK to achieve ISO 9000 quality standard accreditation.
Limerick has always been a major trading centre and was granted a City Charter in 1197, some ten years
before London. Economic activity on the estuary has developed over the centuries because of its
strategic location and natural sheltered deep-water. The town of Foynes was a major sea-plane port in the
mid-twentieth century, serving as a refueling point for transatlantic aircraft. The present port company
has a long heritage, and results from the merger in 2000 of the former Shannon Estuary and Foynes port
companies, as part of the ports rationalisation and modernisation programme undertaken by the Irish
government. SFPC is a limited company with the Irish State as sole shareholder, and has a fully
independent commercial mandate. The company’s strategic direction is governed by a state-appointed
board of directors, and executed by a full-time professional management team.
7.2 DEVELOPMENTS
The Shannon Foynes port Company has developed a five year strategic plan which involves the
improvement of facilities at Foynes and is actively involved in a campaign to attract large scale
enterprises to the Estuary.
The most significant project under active consideration is the possible construction of an LNG reception
facility at Ballylongford in County Kerry on the south shore of the Estuary
7.3 PORT LOCATION
The Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) is situated on the west coast of Ireland between the seaward
limit of 52° 30´N 009° 57´W and the landward limit 52° 39´.5 N 008° 38´ W
7.4 PORT LIMITS
The nautical supervision of the Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) covers the following areas:
The whole of the navigable waters of the River Shannon and it’s tributaries between a seaward imaginary
line joining Loop Head in County Clare to Kerry Head in County Kerry to the downstream side of the
Shannon Bridge in Limerick City.
7.5 LOAD LINES
North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II.
Winter from November 1 to March 31, Summer from April 1 to October 31.
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PORT INFORMATION GUIDE • Source: Harbour Master of Shannon Estuary • March 31st 2009