I refer to the article “Cargoes under pressure as costs and ship demand rise” and in particular reference to the Port of Warrenpoint suggesting that the port is to be closed to timber cargoes as a consequence of the Authority’s having received EU funds to establish a shell purification plant,
The misinformation contained in these statements, coupled with suggestions of impending redundancies and the diversion of cargo to the Port of Belfast, has caused considerable concern, not only within the timber trader users of the Port of Warrenpoint, but within our workforce.
The reality of the vitality of timber trade activity in Warrenpoint is evident by the fact that in the decade from 1991 to 2000, timber imports through the Port of Warrenpoint grew from 33,000m3 to in excess of 240,000m3. This annual volume has been maintained consistently from 2000 and is projected to continue.
The majority of the timber coming into Warrenpoint can be stored in the open. The prospect that the use of one shed, having an area of 26,000ft2, for the purification of mussels would cause the displacement of such a volume of timber is patently nonsense.
I can assure all of the members of the timber trade either currently using the Port of Warrenpoint, or considering the use of Warrenpoint, that the port will continue to provide an efficient and cost-effective service in the future as it has done in the past.
Should either your publication or any of your readers wish to discuss the facilities or services available, I should be happy to hear from them direct and can be contacted at ggoldie@warrenpointharbour.co.uk.
Quintin Goldie
Chief executive
Port of Warrenpoint
