Corporate Plan 2008 - 2012 - Belfast Harbour

Business Powers
It was decided by the previous Assembly that
Trust Ports had insufficient commercial freedom and
that consequently the ports were not positioned to
maximise their financial performance for the benefit
of the economy.
This remains very much the case and, given the
aforementioned need to double port capacity by
2025, it is vital that the ports are enabled to achieve
greater returns.
There remains the risk that, without this approach,
the level of spending required will ultimately result in
the NI Trust Ports being unable to self-finance the very
significant infrastructure investments needed to deliver
the additional capacity required.
The Port’s role as an economic driver is easily
recognised on the marine side of the business where
enabling and promoting trade have very significant
positive consequences for the region.
During the life of this Corporate Plan, the Port’s ability
to enhance its role as an economic catalyst through the
development of Titanic Quarter lands and other aspects
of the Property portfolio will come to the fore. Indeed,
this is already evident through the Port’s participation
in the provision of office facilities in advance of their
letting to Foreign Direct Investors and such commitment
during the Plan will enable the creation of further high
value jobs and the introduction of key businesses to the
benefit of the local economy.
Land Ownership
Whilst the Northern Ireland Port Policy Review
has afforded the opportunity to examine the above
issues, it also raised the question of the Port of Belfast’s
land bank.
The Port of Belfast has a successful track record of
land stewardship and has widely communicated the
importance of Estate revenues to the funding of Port
capacity. Notwithstanding this, there exists a view in
some quarters that the Port of Belfast land bank might
be expropriated and put to other use.
Such an action would render the organisation
incapable of self-funding the necessary port capacity
to support the projected long term growth of the
regional economy.
Stakeholder Context
As a Trust Port, the Port of Belfast’s relationship with
its Stakeholders is a vital element of the business.
Stakeholders include direct and indirect port customers,
port service providers, employees, manufacturers,
tenants, developers, government, communities and
other general public interest organisations.
Catalyst for Economic Development
Working in the Public Interest is central to the value
system of the business and is demonstrated in the
facilitation of key projects such as the Titanic Signature
Project, Northern Ireland Science Park and Odyssey.
School children from four Belfast schools visit The Harbour Office.
Customers
The most significant Port customer issue during the
life of the Plan is the provision of marine capacity,
particularly that related to containers.
As customers seek economies of scale, average vessel
sizes continue to increase in length and draft. These
increases in ship sizes are paralleled by customer
requirements for higher cargo discharge rates and
faster vessel turnaround times.
Such customer needs require the Port to provide:
increased out-of-hours support; longer and deeper
berths; higher capacity cranes; and reinforced quays
and hinterland to accommodate ever larger secondaryhandling
equipment.
Ship manoeuvrability is also increasing as customers
invest in more sophisticated vessels to improve safety
and reduce the cost of towage. Competent Harbour
Authorities must respond to these changes by ensuring
that proscribed Towage Requirements are safe and can
be efficiently delivered.
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