Belfast Harbour

Today we are proud to unveil our new five-year strategy with clear goals supported by a programme of investment which will ensure that we remain a competitive and resilient port, as well as a vibrant economic hub with connected and inclusive communities. We look forward to being joined for our launch event at Harbour Office this morning by Department for the Economy NI Minister Conor Murphy and travel journalist and keynote speaker Simon Calder, as well as a panel of invited guests from across NI’s business sector, including Caitroina McCusker, Claudine Heron and Rachel Sankannawar. Entitled ‘Advance Regional Prosperity’ – our new strategy outlines an ambitious programme to invest more than £300m in capital projects over the next five years. £208m of this will be invested in port improvements, with another £105m in the ongoing regeneration and development of the Harbour Estate and waterfront. This includes the largest single capital project ever undertaken by Belfast Harbour, a proposed £90m investment in a new deepwater quay which will be able to accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise vessels and eventually expand the port’s capacity for offshore wind turbine assembly and installation. To find out more about our plans, and to download a copy of the Strategy, visit https://lnkd.in/eZUGEAAE

We are delighted to be returning for another year as the official Community Outreach partner for the fantastic Belfast Giants. As a community-focused organisation which greatly values the relationships we have developed locally, initiatives such as the Healthy Lifestyle Programme provide an impactful way for us to support with having a positive impact on the lives of young people. We look forward to another exciting year ahead!

Achieving our goals as part of the bigger picture for the local economy has been fundamental to the approach we have taken to the development of our new 2025-29 Strategy, and that includes ensuring that there is clear alignment with the proposed Programme for Government. Thank you once again to Department for the Economy NI Minister Conor Murphy MLA for his words of support at our launch event last week, and we look forward to a positive period of future growth and development as we strive towards our goal to Advance Regional Prosperity. As well as downloading the new strategy, you can catch-up on the live recording of the event at https://bit.ly/3WBnqyY

At the heart of our new 2025-29 Strategy are five key pillars, all of which will work together to support our plans to Advance Regional Prosperity over the next five years. To find out more about our goals, and to see how we are building on the many investments we have already made within Belfast Harbour, download our new Strategy at https://bit.ly/3WBnqyY

'Reimagine' and 'regenerate' are just two of the keywords which underpin Belfast Harbour's new 2025-29 Strategy - all aimed at supporting the growth and development of the port and estate, and of advancing regional prosperity. If you missed the launch of our new 5-year plan last week, you can download the strategy and catch-up with a recording of the event at https://bit.ly/3WA9KE9

A pleasure to welcome Neil Gibson, Permanent Secretary, Department of Finance and senior civil servants to Harbour Office yesterday. Being given the opportunity to host key departments and individuals like this is a positive reflection of the clear alignment between the proposed Programme for Government and Belfast Harbour’s new five-year strategy - entitled Advance Regional Prosperity - which we launched earlier this week.

A fantastic morning session at Ulster University for the 2025 Belfast Summit, which saw a wealth of insight from the keynote speakers from across the UK and locally about the opportunities and challenges for the city in bringing greater growth and development. Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners Dr. Theresa Donaldson and Belfast Harbour CEO Joe O’Neill added their voices to the discussion, with reference to our role in supporting Belfast and the wider region with becoming a vibrant place to live and work. This is one of the key pillars of our new strategy which launched this week, through which we will be investing in sustainable, and inclusive new communities, featuring quality homes, modern offices, and lively recreation areas. Well done to all involved in bringing this fantastic event to Belfast, we look forward to seeing the many positive outcomes from today’s discussions!

STORM EOWYN – RED WEATHER WARNING Following the issuing of a RED Weather Warning ahead of the approaching Storm Éowyn – with associated risk to life – we would like to advise all port users, customers and tenants of the following information. We will be keeping our Marine operations under review from 0001-0700hrs on Friday 24th January. Marine and land-based operations will be suspended from 0700–1400hrs on Friday 24th January 2025. Should operations need to be suspended outside of these hours stakeholders will be notified accordingly. Belfast Harbour requests that all port stakeholders should take appropriate action and preparations ahead of the incoming storm to ensure minimum impacts. Particular attention should be paid to construction works, automated warehouse openings and other vulnerable structures. Risks to be aware of include: ▪ Flying debris resulting in danger to life ▪ Large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes ▪ Very dangerous driving conditions with fallen trees on roads ▪ Power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage ▪ Damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down ▪ Roads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights. Further details and updates are available from the Met Office at https://bit.ly/40qEf0n

All set for today's Belfast Summit at Ulster University where Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners Dr. Theresa Donaldson will be talking about our new Strategy and our plans for growth and development over the next 5 years. Make sure to call past our stall on the 3rd floor atrium!

As one of the sponsors of the Belfast Summit, we look forward to joining this important and timely event at Ulster University tomorrow, where Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners Dr. Theresa Donaldson will discuss how we will be contributing to the drive for growth and development through our newly launched 2025-29 Strategy.