Holyhead closure causing 'massive problems' during Christmas rush, logistics expert says

Eva Osborne and Vivienne Clarke

The closure of Holyhead Port is causing "massive problems" as it is responsible for 60 per cent of the freight into Ireland, according to the chief executive of Tranzaura, a Limerick-based transport technology company.

Shane Mann said: "You take 60 per cent out of any system, and it causes massive problems.

“Given the time of year, trying to find that extra capacity to solve the problem is a huge challenge.”

There has been huge concern for companies and postal services as the backlog of shipping poses a big challenge in the run-up to Christmas following the damages caused at Holyhead during Storm Darragh.

“The resolution of this crisis will require coordinated efforts across the supply chain to restore stability and ensure Ireland’s critical imports keep moving," Mann said.

“Probably one of the bigger issues right now is freight trailers being stuck [in Holyhead] without trucks to draw them out. Finding trucks and finding drivers to go into Holyhead, collect those trailers and bring them back out to move them to other ports is the big challenge."

"If any industry can overcome the challenge, it's the logistics industry. They've dealt with other serious supply chain problems during Covid, but this particular issue brings its own unique problems because it's happening right in the middle of the Christmas rush."

Damage done to Holyhead port during Storm Darragh is feared to be worse than originally thought, and could see ferry services cancelled until after Christmas.

This could result in Christmas parcels travelling to and from Ireland being delayed until after the festive season.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Monday the “seriousness” of the damage was becoming “more apparent as the days go by”.

The Welsh secretary for transport Ken Skates said the position of Holyhead port should be known later this week.

“In the meantime, contingency plans are being rolled out where identifying collectively the operators of the ferries and the ports across the UK. We're identifying as much spare capacity as possible, be able to utilise other ports to get ferries to and from Ireland,” he told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne on Tuesday.

Mr Skates acknowledged there had been uncertainty about the reopening of the port. This led to speculation about the reopening date of the port and if it could happen before Christmas.

“That's why it's absolutely vital that we get that certainty within the next 24 hours. As to whether it will or will not. Now, I understand that investigations are ongoing. There are divers under the water on a very regular basis assessing the damage. But within the next 24 hours, we will have certainty and we'll be able to then implement very, very significant plans to be able to get as many people and goods to Ireland as soon as possible.”

Mr Skates added that he had been communicating on a daily basis with Minister of State James Lawless on the issue, not just with each other, but with the ferry companies and the port operators.

“Everybody is doing the utmost to get goods and people to Ireland before Christmas.

“We're identifying as many opportunities to provide additional ferry services from other ports to minimise the disruption and to get as many people and as many goods to Ireland before Christmas as we possibly can. “

Mr Skates said that the Welsh government had set up a taskforce to examine how best they could provide opportunities for people to get back to Ireland in time for Christmas.

“We believe that the figure is around about 100,000 people that return to Ireland at Christmas time. So the number is significant and we're doing our utmost to identify not just ferries but flights as well. And I would say that it's absolutely vital at this time of year that the airplane operators show and to signal to people who are in need and to get back to Ireland for Christmas. And it's not helpful when fares rise astronomically. So I'd appeal to those airlines not to increase fares given the severity of the situation.

“I think it'd be very helpful if they could be part of the solution and in the most sympathetic way.

“I'm sure they will listen and decide to respond accordingly in a sympathetic way. We'll wait to see. But I do hope that they will take this matter with the utmost seriousness and help passengers get back to Ireland for Christmas.

“My hope is that we will be able to secure arrangements where people will be able to use alternative means of travel with their existing tickets. It's absolutely vital that we make this process as seamless and as painless as we possibly can. All of us, for the people who are looking to return to Ireland and for people who are looking to get their gifts in time for Christmas.

“So it's vitally important that everybody works together. And that's the message that we've been expressing collectively, myself and Minister Lawless, on ferry operators, on transport, other transport operators and on the ports.”