Dublin

TL;DR: Ireland's dominant container gateway — a tidal port on the Liffey that handles most of the country's unitised traffic but cannot take the largest vessels, so China cargo typically transships via the northern range and feeds west.

Key specifications

Throughput and draft figures are indicative and change year to year. Confirm current figures with the port authority before relying on them.

Hinterland

Ireland — Dublin serves the Greater Dublin Area, the largest consumer market, and by road most of the island; it is the default gate for Irish imports.

What most guides skip

Dublin is Ireland's volume gate but not a deep-sea gate: as a tidal river port it cannot take the ultra-large vessels, so most China cargo lands at a northern-range hub and feeds west across the Irish Sea rather than calling Dublin direct. That final short-sea leg is the cost and time continental markets never pay, and it is the reason Dublin's routing question is really 'which continental hub do I transship at' rather than 'which Irish port do I land at'.

Key takeaways

1. Ireland's dominant container gateway and the default gate for Irish imports.
2. Tidal port that cannot take the largest mainline vessels.
3. Most China cargo transships via the northern range and feeds west.
4. The final short-sea leg across the Irish Sea is the cost continental markets never pay.

Port facts are indicative and change over time. Always confirm current operational details with the relevant port authority before making commercial decisions.