Vol. 516 No. 4
32 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his Department's views on the proposals put forward by the Shannon estuary ports for the development of a new trans-shipment port on the north Kerry coast of the Shannon estuary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8190/00]
I am advised by Shannon Estuary Ports Company that in conjunction with Shannon Development Company, it is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a terminal adjacent to Shannon Development Company's landbank near Ballylongford in North Kerry.
I understand that the proposed terminal would allow large vessels to bring containers from North America to Ballylongford, where they would be loaded onto smaller vessels for their final European destination. Containers for North America could be handled in a similar fashion and the proposed operation could result in considerable time savings for vessels currently crossing the Atlantic to Rotterdam.
Shannon Estuary Ports Company informs me that the project is at a preliminary stage and that initial contacts have been made recently with potential interested parties. A market study will be conducted shortly to ascertain the feasibility of such a project.
I am of course fully supportive of the port company's efforts to develop estuary related port business to the maximum potential.
