Belfast Harbour has launched a 25‑year plan setting out £1.3 billion of planned investment into the port.
The Belfast Harbour 2025–2050 Masterplan: Horizons of Opportunity sets out how the Trust Port will expand and adapt to provide critical additional capacity and support its logistics capabilities.
Additionally, independent analysis by Ulster University and Grant Thornton found that the plan’s investments could add £12bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually from trade handled and support almost 5,500 construction jobs.
External forecasts prepared by port master‑planning experts Haskoning indicate that trade volumes through Belfast Harbour could increase from around 24 million tonnes today to over 30 million tonnes by 2050.
The same forecast estimates that between 40 million and 50 million tonnes could pass through the harbour annually under higher‑growth scenarios.
Under every scenario other than decline or stagnation, growth will reportedly outpace current infrastructure without planned investment.
The Masterplan identifies a £1.3bn programme of investment in critical port infrastructure to support this growth.
It also sets out how the Harbour Estate can continue to integrate port operations, logistics, clean energy and regeneration within a single, connected environment.
Projects include completion of the £90m D3 deepwater cruise terminal; a land reclamation project to create a new freight terminal at West Bank Road; redevelopment of the island’s longest deep water quay – Stormont Wharf and a berth extension to its container terminal for next generation vessels.
Belfast Harbour has also suggest that it will construct of a new logistics park and a clean energy hub; and creation of a new maritime skills academy to support jobs in the sector.
Belfast Harbour chief executive, Joe O’Neill, said: “Belfast Harbour is a working port first and foremost. Much of what people and businesses across Northern Ireland depend on passes through here every day, from food and fuel to construction materials and consumer goods.
“Ensuring that trade continues to flow efficiently is our core purpose.
“As capacity tightens at key ports on the Irish east coast, we are putting the scale of our estate to work providing the planned capacity the island needs, supporting customers today and preparing Belfast Harbour to be the principal maritime gateway on the Dublin–Belfast Economic Corridor.”
IntraLogisteX 2026 takes place on 17-18 March 2027 at the NEC Birmingham. For exhibitor information and visitor registration, visit the official event website at www.intralogistex.co.uk
