New international project to boost Shannon ports

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) is lending full support to the Weastflow project , which aims to improve and enhance freight logistics in North West Europe, including the Shannon Estuary ports.

The €9 million project is part-funded by the Interreg IVB NWE programme and involves 22 partners and 19 observers from countries including Ireland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the UK and China.

The project will explore current freight logistics practices in North West Europe, identifying challenges and opportunities to improve freight flows and encourage more sustainable freight transport methods.

President of the IRHA, Clare man, Eoin Gavin spoke at a recent Weastflow conference in Brussels to outline the Associations on-going efforts to support and promote sustainable transport in respect to the Limerick/Shannon gateway. During the course of his presentation, Mr Gavin highlighted the excellent opportunity for the area to position itself as the closest deep-sea port and international airport to North America.

Mr Gavin stated after the event in Brussels, “The economic opportunity the Limerick / Shannon gateway presents for the region is self-evident in respect to trade with North America. The locality also boasts excellent sustainable onward bound links to the rest of Europe through use of the various transport modes so it is an opportunity that cannot be passed up.”