OPPORTUNITIES
The Atlantic Way supports strategic initiatives and projects of scale that can make a real difference to the Region.
During the coming weeks, the Atlantic Way will begin to feature a series of ‘opportunity profiles’, drawing from the work of our various Action Groups and our members, and will reflect them on this website.
The Shannon Estuary – its potential as a major European Transhipment Hub
World shipping experts agree that, because of major changes in the dynamics of world shipping, and because of the uniqueness of the resource, the Shannon Estuary can be a major European transhipment hub — a facility that should be of strong interest to global players in the United States, Asia and beyond who require cost efficient access into Europe.
With the Panama Canal expansion project, due to complete in 2014, there will be an increase in vessel sizes to achieve cost efficiencies. However, access into the major European ports is becoming increasingly congested and the larger the vessel the more difficult the access.
The Shannon Estuary can provide the solution. It can accommodate the largest unitized cargo ships in the world and has no tidal restrictions. Its location also means minimal deviation from deep-sea shipping lanes into Europe.
A Shannon Estuary facility for breaking out cargo and utilizing smaller vessels for onward shipping into Europe would mean major savings, eliminating the need for double handling of cargoes at congested European ports such as Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.
A Shannon Energy Valley
The University of Limerick, Shannon Development, NUI, Galway and ITLG (Irish Technology Leadership Group), in consultation with the local authorities and industry in the region, have developed a plan for a ‘Shannon Energy Valley’ and are committing significant resources to advance the initiative. The Energy Valley will provide a National hub for Energy R&D, Industry and Commerce and the initiative will appeal to international investors.
In the weeks ahead, we will highlight the opportunity here in more detail.
The potential opportunities presented by the new U.S. Customs & Border Protection Facilities at Shannon International Airport
The new, full pre-clearance facilities at Shannon Airport, for U.S. bound passengers, is unique in the world, outside of the Americas. It provides the Region with another competitive advantage.
The new facility means passengers benefit from uninterrupted passage through U.S. airports on arrival, saving time and avoiding delays. Airlines benefit from being able to fly into less congested and less expensive domestic terminals at major U.S. airports and the smaller provincial airports. For executives using corporate jets, utilising Shannon is now a very attractive proposition.
This new facility further adds to the appeal of Shannon and provides commercial, corporate, cargo and aviation-related opportunities. It also makes the Region even more attractive as a headquarter location for U.S. and EU organisations.
Global Freight Logistics Centre at Shannon Airport
Shannon International Airport has the potential to be a major international freight logistics centre and the Region’s freight-related interests, working with the Atlantic Way, are exploring this opportunity.
An important first step in this ambition, supported by Atlantic Way, is an initiative between the Shannon Airport Authority and the Lynxs Group to build a major cargo port facility, financed by the Lynxs Group, with the airport undertaking supporting infrastructural works.
Freight already underpins significant employment in the Region. The development of a global freight logistics centre has the potential to create and support over 10,000 new jobs in the Region within a five to ten year timeframe.
A World Innovation Campus at Shannon
Innovation is the key to Ireland’s economic progress — creating competitive advantage to help us develop existing and new overseas markets.
Shannon is the potential home of a World Innovation Campus; a centre that taps into, harnesses, supports and nurtures Ireland’s talent base, helping entrepreneurs to create sustainable, innovative products and services that can give us an edge in the international marketplace.
The concept is being pursued by the Atlantic Way.
Contact us
If you have an interest in any of the opportunities featured here, please contact us.