Dublin Port Company (DPC) has announced the 3FM Project, the third and final Masterplan project to complete the development of Dublin Port in its ultimate and final capacity by 2040.
The 3FM is expected to deliver 20% of the capacity required by 2040 on one-fifth of Dublin Port’s lands located on the Poolbeg Peninsula, at an estimated cost of US$451.3 million (€400 million).
The construction of the third phase of the port’s development which aims to deliver not only the capacity objectives of Masterplan 2040 but also the objective to re-integrate Dublin Port with Dublin City, will commence in 2026 and is anticipated to be completed between 2030 and 2035.
Currently, the project is at the pre-planning stage according to the Irish port, and the announcement of the 3FM Project launch constitutes the start of a conversation with all stakeholders before that work begins.
In early 2023, DPC will lodge a planning application with Ireland’s national independent planning body, An Bord Pleanála, while from now on, the company will prepare the detailed project design and environmental impact reports required for large infrastructure projects.
A key part of the 3FM Project is the construction of the largest container terminal in the country in front of ESB’s Poolbeg Power Station, which is estimated to provide an annual throughput capacity of 612,000TEU. According to the port of Dublin, this number translates to a capacity for more than twice the number of containers handled in all other ports in the country last year.
Furthermore, the project plans the redevelopment of the existing blue container terminal to create a new Ro-Ro freight terminal in its place with an annual throughput capacity of 288,000 freight trailers.
In addition, a new private road called the Southern Port Access Route (SPAR) is projected to be constructed to link the north and south port areas, taking heavy goods vehicles off the public road via a new bridge across the River Liffey immediately east of the Tom Clarke Bridge.
The project will also focus on the creation of a 325-metre diameter ship turning circle in front of Pigeon House Harbour, as well as on the development of 61,000m² of new public parks in three locations on the Poolbeg Peninsula to provide community gain, including 5.5 km of cycle paths and pedestrian routes throughout the Poolbeg Peninsula.
The sixth element of the 3FM Project constitutes the provision of a 1-km site to accommodate utilities needed for the City’s district heating scheme (powered by the Covanta) waste to energy plant, as well as for the storage of a range of utilities for the Pembroke at Dublin Four development.
“Dublin Port Company is committed to proper planning and sustainable development and has already secured planning permissions for two large Strategic Infrastructure Development projects from An Bord Pleanála – the ABR Project (2015) and the MP2 Project (2020),” stated a DPC official.
The 3FM Project is expected to ensure that essential port capacity will be available on time, as capacity pinch points are already evident in the north port area post-Brexit and pending completion of the aforementioned ongoing Masterplan projects.
Since 2010, Dublin Port Company has invested US$564.7 million (€500 million) in the north port area to provide port capacity catering for an overall volume growth of 44% growth in ten years, which is equivalent to an annual growth rate of 3.7%, according to a statement.
