WASHINGTON: Ireland’s ports of Cork and Dublin have fully resumed operations following disruption due to Storm Ophelia. A spokesperson for the Port of Cork said that full shipping movements resumed at 0600 hrs on October 17 after the port suspended all of this activity as well as cargo operations until the hurricane’s strength had eased. The port made the decision to halt operations based on the issuing of a severe weather warning nationally – its RED level being the highest possible level on the scale. The storm disrupted ship and quayside operations at the port’s Tivoli container terminal and Ringaskiddy deepwater berth, as well as affecting gate operations in Tivoli.
In some areas, the port experienced power outages and downed fences and power lines, while some empty containers were blown over. Based on severe sea conditions on Sunday evening, the port limited all shipping movements from midnight, with all vessels remaining on berths until the early hours of the morning.Masters were advised to continually monitor mooring lines and have engines on short notice until the wind had fully abated. Port tug crews remained on 24-hour notice throughout.
The port also advised all persons to stay away from the quays and exposed areas within its harbour and all marine leisure craft were advised to stay off the river until the hurricane had subsided. A spokesperson for the port said: “Thankfully, the Port of Cork did not sustain any major damage during Storm Ophelia. “This was mainly down to all our port staff who helped secure port equipment and monitor all port areas prior and during Storm Ophelia.” On October 17, Dublin Port Company said that all container and ferry operations at the Port of Dublin had resumed. Because of the hurricane, the authority had closed access to the Great South Wall and Bull Bridge and imposed restrictions on Dollymount Bridge. There were also restrictions on container operations at the port.
