Irish and Welsh leaders are set to meet today to discuss the ongoing disruption at Holyhead port, which has been closed since early December due to storm damage. The port’s operator, Stena Line, has announced plans to partially resume services next week.
Terminal 5 at the key Irish Sea port is scheduled to reopen on January 16, weather permitting. However, Terminal 3, which suffered structural damage during Storm Darragh on December 6-7, remains closed with no confirmed reopening date.
Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris will speak with Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan to coordinate efforts to manage the movement of people and freight between Ireland and Great Britain. This follows their previous discussion just before Christmas about the port’s closure.
According to The Journal, the closure has significantly impacted travel and trade during a busy period for both families and businesses. A government spokesperson emphasized the need for both governments to work together on contingency plans.
Stena Line reported that Storm Darragh caused part of Terminal 3’s structure to collapse, requiring extensive underwater inspections of both terminals to assess structural integrity.
The partial reopening of Terminal 5 marks a significant step toward restoring normal operations at one of the main transport links between Ireland and Britain.