Uncertainty Surrounds Holyhead Port’s Christmas Reopening

The Irish prime minister has stated that Holyhead port on Anglesey is “highly unlikely” to resume operations before Christmas, though the Welsh government maintains that a decision is still pending. Taoiseach Simon Harris remarked that the severity of the damage inflicted by Storm Darragh is becoming “more apparent as the days go by,” and he expressed concern for individuals attempting to return home for the Christmas period. Conversely, Welsh Transport Secretary Ken Skates conveyed his optimism that the port’s operator would confirm by Wednesday whether the facility would open on Friday, as initially planned. This vital maritime link between north Wales and Dublin has been closed since Storm Darragh struck over a week ago, with the port indicating that repair work for the damage is ongoing. One local business suggested that this situation could be the “final nail in the coffin” for the area. Following a meeting on Monday, Mr Skates reported that Stena, the port operator, had assured him that answers regarding a potential reopening by the end of the week, as hoped, would be provided by Wednesday “at the latest.” However, he added that Stena and Irish Ferries were still developing “all plans possible to get goods and people back to Ireland and vice versa before Christmas,” by utilizing other ports in Wales and the rest of the UK. Mr Harris described the situation as “a serious concern” for people who have purchased gifts they hope will arrive, and for those endeavoring to travel home for Christmas. Stena issued an apology for the cancellation of its Holyhead sailings and affirmed it was “doing everything in its power to mitigate the effects of the closure on passenger and freight traffic.” The ferry operator announced it was evaluating additional sailings from Dublin to its ports in Birkenhead and Fishguard, as well as from Belfast to Cairnryan and Heysham, to facilitate the movement of trade and passengers. Stena Line and Irish Ferries each typically conduct four daily ferry sailings in both directions between Holyhead and Dublin. On average, Holyhead serves two million passengers annually, and approximately 1,200 lorries and trailers make the crossing daily. Cheryl Kirkwood, who co-manages the Royalty Recruitment agency in Holyhead with her husband, stated that they had planned to recruit 10 new lorry drivers to meet the demands of this time of year. However, due to the disruption, she had to inform them that their services would no longer be required. “We’re devastated,” she said. “As a local, family-run business, letting local families on the island down … of course it’s completely out of our control but that doesn’t help how we feel as a business.” “This is your magic quarter, this is where you make the money.” “The port brings so much to the economy and without it here, there are so many closures on the island, it just feels like the final nail in the coffin.” The port’s closure has led Ireland’s national postal service to abandon its plans to use Holyhead port for Christmas deliveries. James Lawless, Ireland’s junior minister at the Department of Transport, met his Welsh counterpart Ken Skates on Sunday, and subsequently met with Stena Line again on Monday. Mr Lawless indicated that both ministers were requesting Stena Line to provide more “accurate and timely” updates on the extent of the damage and the necessary repairs at Holyhead. He mentioned that Mr Skates had also committed to temporarily relaxing driver rules, mirroring actions taken by the Irish government over the weekend. Ireland’s Department of Transport announced that it would ease regulations concerning haulier hours until Friday, 27 December, allowing drivers to work more hours and take fewer breaks. Mr Lawless suggested that implementing these measures from both sides at Holyhead would help to alleviate the backlog of deliveries. A port spokesperson acknowledged the disruption caused by two separate incidents at Terminal 3, used by Irish Ferries, on Friday, 6 December, and Saturday, 7 December. They explained that underwater inspections were necessary around this terminal and the adjacent Terminal 5, which could only commence on Tuesday, 10 December, once Storm Darragh had passed. “This process is still ongoing, and we will provide an update as soon as we are able to,” the spokesperson added. They affirmed their awareness of the disruption this has caused to trade, passengers, and port customers, emphasizing that the safety of staff, contractors, and customers remains their foremost priority. Concurrently, local MP Llinos Medi asserted that the UK’s second busiest roll-on/roll-off port required increased investment. Ms Medi, who represents Ynys Môn, informed BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that “it’s obvious that the [repair] work is much more intense than they expected it to be.” She expressed her hope that the port of Holyhead would be recognized by “both Welsh and UK government as a port that needs to be supported.” Ms Medi reported that a local company had informed her that the closure had resulted in approximately 10 job losses. She highlighted that the storm had underscored the strategic importance of the port for the UK, Ireland, and Europe. “Things have to go wrong before anyone actually recognises the value of it,” she further remarked. “People don’t realise it’s not just the inconvenience of the port being closed, it’s actually having a personal impact on people and their families.” The port’s closure follows the restoration of electricity to the last remaining businesses and residences in Wales that had been without power after the storm. Storm Darragh brought wind gusts reaching up to 93mph (150km/h) as it impacted the UK. A spokesperson for the Welsh government stated that the closure is being handled through a collaborative initiative involving the government itself, the Port Authority, Stena Line, Irish Ferries, and the Isle of Anglesey council, “to ensure public safety and minimise disruption.”