Berth 3 Upgrade Project: Green Drift

The Berth 3 Upgrade Project will deliver important infrastructure improvements at Rosslare Europort to support the continued development of the port, improve operational resilience and strengthen Ireland's direct maritime connectivity with mainland Europe. The project is being advanced through the GREEN DRIFT funding framework, which is linked to the Rosslare-Dunkirk route, while the upgraded infrastructure will provide wider benefits across Rosslare Europort's ferry operations.

The project will upgrade Berth 3 to accommodate longer ferries, modernise the existing RoRo ramp, and provide onshore power supply infrastructure. These works will support the use of larger and more efficient vessels, improve flexibility in berth operations, and contribute to lower-emission port operations.

Supporting port resilience and direct connections to Europe

The Rosslare-Dunkirk route provides an important direct link between Ireland and northern France, with onward connections to Benelux, Germany and wider European markets. Since Brexit, this route has become a valuable alternative to the UK land bridge for freight and passenger movement.

While the EU funding is linked to the Rosslare-Dunkirk route, the Berth 3 Upgrade will strengthen Rosslare Europort's overall capability by providing additional flexibility, resilience and capacity to support existing and future ferry services across the port.

What the project will deliver

The Berth 3 Upgrade Project will include:

  • extension of Berth 3 to accommodate longer ferries;
  • modernisation of the existing RoRo ramp;
  • installation of onshore power supply infrastructure;
  • infrastructure to support larger and more modern vessels;
  • improvements that support efficient freight and passenger movement across port operations.

Project benefits

The project will help to:

  • increase capacity, resilience and operational flexibility at Rosslare Europort;
  • support more sustainable ferry operations;
  • reduce emissions while vessels are in port through onshore power supply;
  • improve freight and passenger connectivity between Ireland and mainland Europe;
  • support economic growth through reliable access to European markets;
  • strengthen Rosslare Europort's role on the European TEN-T transport network and support the port's long-term growth.

Green Drift

The Berth 3 Upgrade forms part of Growth and Recovery through Emission-reducing Enhanced Network - Dunkirk and Rosslare Infrastructure and Ferry Transformation (GREEN DRIFT), a partnership project between Iarnród Éireann, as Port Authority for Rosslare Europort, and the Port of Dunkirk.

Green Drift will deliver complementary upgrades at both ports to support larger, more efficient vessels and improve the sustainability of operations on the Rosslare-Dunkirk route. At Rosslare Europort, the Berth 3 Upgrade will also provide wider port benefits by increasing berth flexibility, resilience and future capacity. The overall GREEN DRIFT project is valued at €38.5 million and is co-funded by the European Union.

Programme

Major works at Rosslare Europort are expected to begin in Q4 2026, with project completion expected in 2028. Port operations will continue during delivery, with works planned to support operational continuity as far as practicable.

EU funding statement

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Iarnród Éireann - Irish Rail and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.

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