Partial reopening of storm-hit port on 16 January
Chris Wilds Photography and FilmIt has been announced that one of the UK’s busiest ports will partially reopen on January 16 after being hit by Storm Dara.
Stena Line, which owns the port of Holyhead and operates some of the crossings, confirmed that only one of the two main ferry berths will reopen.
The port at Holyhead on Anglesey has been closed since December 7 After being damaged by strong winds and waves.
A reopening date for the second berth, which was the most damaged, has not yet been determined.
Stena Line said it could not immediately confirm how the partial reopening would affect ferry services, but added that the revised timetable would be confirmed on January 2.
Before the temporary closure, the two ferries would often unload and load cargo side by side, something that would not be possible with only one berth reopened.
A spokesman for Stena Line said: “We are delighted to share the positive news regarding the ongoing closure of ferry berths at Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 at the Port of Holyhead.
“Following careful assessment and planning, we can now confirm that the timetable for reopening the Terminal 5 ferry berths by 16 January 2025 remains achievable.
“This forecast is subject to reasonable weather conditions and we will provide further updates as developments continue.
Holyhead is one of the UK’s busiest ferry ports and the shortest crossing point between the UK and Ireland.
On average, two million passengers use Holyhead each year, with around 1,200 trucks and trailers crossing the border every day.
Prior to the temporary closure, Stena Line and Irish Ferries each operated up to four services to Dublin, usually within half an hour.
Irish Ferries has not yet confirmed whether changes to the timetable will be required if only one berth reopens in mid-January.
PAA spokesperson for Stena Line added: “Our priority is restoring services and we will share more information as soon as possible.
Stena Line was unable to give a timetable for repair work on the second berth and the full reopening of the port.
A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “We are pleased that Stena is making positive progress and continues to work towards safely reopening the port to services for people who want to travel and businesses transporting goods.”
Why is Holyhead Port closed?
Ports were closed after Storm Dara hit Britain with wind gusts of up to 93mph (150km/h).
High-speed winds caused damage to Terminals 3 and 5, and the port said underwater inspections to start remedial work were postponed until December 10 after Storm Dara passed.
It turns out it’s for Stay closed until January 15 at the earliestinitially due to Reopening on December 20But the port said to prioritize safety, the Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 ferry berths need to remain closed.
Two incidents affecting Terminal 3 berths occurred on December 6 and 7, resulting in the collapse of part of the structure, which the port said rendered the berths unusable, leading to a prolonged closure.
