Greenore Port Unlimited is seeking approval to build a support base for offshore wind developments on the Irish Sea in Louth.

The company, which is the owner and operator of the port located at the southern end of Carlingford Lough, wants to redevelop the port facilities to cater for the operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

Ireland has set a target of developing 5GW of Offshore Wind renewable electricity capacity by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan.

Constructing and maintaining such offshore wind farms will come with a significant logistical challenge.

Greenore Port was bought by the Doyle Shipping Group in December 2014, setting up the Greenore Port Unlimited Company as a wholly owned subsidiary to manage the private port.

The company has invested €20 million in upgrading the port to date, and plans to continue further investment in the future.

Greenore is the only deep-water port on the east coast of Ireland outside of Dublin, and current services include general cargo handling, pilotage and customs.

This proposed development will consist of three standalone buildings each with a gross floor area of 1,670 sqm, comprising 681 sqm warehouse floor space, 322 sqm office space and 667 sqm plant, welfare, storage, ancillary and circulation space per unit. 

The height of each unit ranges from 7.2m for the warehouse (single-storey / double-height space) to 13.5m max for the office 3-storey element. 

Significant construction works would also take place in and around the harbour area to turn this into a naval hub.

Nearshore works will include dredging harbour sediments to a depth of -4m Chart Datum to provide navigable water depths.

Other works will involve the construction of a new 70m Quay Wall,  a 40m anti-slip access ramp, and a floating pontoon for berthing crew transfer vessels.

The proposed pontoon would have 9 berths, with an additional 2 layby berths and a push-on / service berth adjacent to the new quay wall.

A new 40m high telecoms mast would be installed at the port, replacing a 25m high mast already present, to maintain better contact with Crew Transfer Vessels handling day to day maintenance of offshore wind farms.

A number of buildings present at the site of the port currently will be demolished to make way for the new construction.

“Without swift action to develop new port infrastructure and upgrade existing facilities, offshore wind energy targets set for 2030 and beyond are unlikely to be met,” a planning statement submitted with the development states.

“The need for the proposed development is, therefore, both clear and pressing. Our primary focus must be on implementing the renewable energy ambitions and this infrastructure is not a ‘nice-to-have’; it is a ‘must-have’ to succeed.” 

Louth County Council is due to make a decision on this planning application by late July 2024.